ISLAMABAD: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has urged the federal government to immediately approve and implement the longawaited salary revision for faculty members serving under the Tenure Track System (TTS) in public sector universities across Pakistan.

President of the FAPUASA Islamabad chapter, Prof Dr Aamir Ali of Quaid-i-Azam University, in a press release stated that TTS faculty members have not received any salary revision since 2021 despite unprecedented inflation, increasing taxation, and a substantial rise in the cost of living.

He observed that the pro-longed delay in salary revision had created serious financial hardships and growing frustration among university faculty members, researchers, and scientists nationwide.

Prof Dr Aamir Ali said the Tenure Track System was originally introduced to attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified scholars, researchers, and professionals within Pakistan`s higher education sector. However, the continuous stagnation of salaries had significantly undermined the effectiveness and competitiveness of TTS framework.

He further stated that university teachers and researchers were playing a vital role in national development, scientific innovation, knowledge production, and human resource development.

He said that neglecting legitimate financial concerns of academics was adversely affecting research productivity, academic excellence, and the overall quality of higher education in Pakistan.

The FAPUASA Islamabad chapter welcomed the recommendations of special task force constituted by Ministry of Planning, Development andSpecial Initiatives under the leadership of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, which proposed a rational restructuring of TTS salaries in accordance with prevailing economic realities.

Dr Aamir Ali called upon the prime minister, finance ministry, planning ministry, and HEC to immediately approve the proposed TTS salary revision.

He stressed that investment in university faculty and researchers was, in fact, an investment in Pakistan`s future scientific progress, technological advancement, economic stability, and global competitiveness.

FAPUASA reiterated that continued delay in addressing financial concerns of university faculty was accelerating the brain drain of highly qualified academics and researchers towards foreign institutions and international markets.

The association warned that, without immediate corrective measures, Pakistan`s higher education sector might face serious challenges.

Itis pertinent to note that the HEC had already sought an increase in the recurring budget for universities from theexisting Rs65 billion to Rs100 billion in the fiscal year 2026-27 to stabilise institutional finances, sustain core academic operations, and strengthen the country`s national research framework.

According to documents available with Dawn, the HEC estimated that Rs138 billion would be required as a recurring grant for the upcoming fiscal year.

However, the documents stated that, in response to the HEC`s estimate, the government communicated an Indicative Budgetary Ceiling (IBC) of Rs65 billion, which has remained unchanged since the fiscal year 2017-18 despite significant growth in enrolment, expansion of universities, inflationary pressures, and governmentannounced salary increases, resulting in an additional financial impact of Rs120 billion.

The HEC is now seeking at least Rs100 billion as a recurring grant for public sector universities in the financial year 2026-27, including Rs5 billion to cater for anticipated salary increases for TTS faculty in line with Islamabad High Court directions.