KARACHI: Prof Syed Iqbal Alam, a retired professor of biochemistry and former president ofthe teachers`association atthe Gulshan-i-Iqbal campus of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), passed away on Monday.

According to Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, who is the convenerof the Organising Committee of Retired Teachers and Staff, Prof Alam had not received his pension for the past five months.

Dr Khan said that so far nine retired teachers and staff members of FUUAST had died over the past year while waiting for their pension and commutation dues.

He added that Prof Alam remained active in raising concerns about and protesting the non-payment of pensions and hadsupported efforts by retired employees to demand their dues.

He had also offered to join a hunger strike by the retirees. He said the deceased academic also used to help low-income staff during his service.

Dr Khan held the Urdu university administration and the Higher Education Commission responsible for the continued delays. He appealed to the prime minister to intervene and order the release of Rs670 million,which is reportedly available in the university`s pension account as acknowledged by the university in correspondence with the Pakistan Information Commission.

He said the retired employees have reiterated their demand for immediate resumption of monthly pension payments and clearance of all pending dues, adding that continued delay would lead to further hardships for them.