LAHORE:The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) on Tuesday urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to issue a notification for the restoration of the tax rebatefor teachers and researchers so that the benefit may be reflected in the salaries of April 2025.

The call was made during an online meeting of the FAPUASA Executive Council for the 2024-25 session. The meeting was presided over by FAPUASA President Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, while General Secretary Dr Muhammad Uzair moderated the proceedings.

Vice President Dr Mazhar Iqbal, Central Information Secretary Dr Ahtisham Ali and presidents, general secretaries, and executive members from provincial chapters also attended the meeting.

The council expressed satisfaction with the federal cabinet`s decision on 26 March 2025 to restore the tax rebate for teachers and researchers. However, they said that animmediate notification was necessary to ensure the rebate could be implemented in April salaries.

The council also voiced serious concern over the worsening financial situation of public sector universities across the country. It called for a significant increase in both federal and provincial budgets, including grant-in-aid for universities.

A joint statement issued after the meeting urged the prime minister, finance minister, federal minister for higher education and the chief ministers of all provinces to prioritise higher education while finalising the upcoming budgets.

The council further called for the immediate establishment of provincial Higher Education Commissions (HECs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, similar to those in other provinces. It also demanded financial and administrative autonomy for existing provincial HECs.

The meeting concluded with a strong condemnation of Israeli aggression in Palestine. FAPUASA demanded urgent action from the United Nations and Muslim coun-tries to support the oppressed Palestinian people.

CAREER FAIR: Over 100 public and private companies set up 180 stalls at the University of Engineering and Technology`s (UET) Annual Career Fair 2025, held on Tuesday.

The event was inaugurated by UET Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Munir and drew more than 8,000 students from various disciplines. At least 50 companies conducted on-the-spot interviews, while 20 companies held job-related tests for student recruitment.

Prof Munir said the fair aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by bringing both sectors together under one roof. He said UET graduates were employed in various firms across the country and expressed confidence in their professional capabilities.

He thanked the participating companies for offering job opportunities to fresh graduates and highlighted UET`s growing emphasis on modern disciplines to meet the evolving needs of the technology sector.