ISLAMABAD: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) on Monday announced that university teachers across the country would observe a `black day` on January 30 to highlight challenges faced by the higher education sector, including the abolition of 25pc tax rebate for teachers.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, the association urged the president, the prime minister, and other stakeholders to resolve their problems. The teachers took exception to the government interference in the autonomy of universities, changes in the criteria for the appointment of vice-chancellors in Sindh`s universities, changes inpension rules in Punjab, and the non-payment of salaries in the universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

FAPUASA President Dr Amjad Magsi termed the abolition of the 25pc tax exemption to teachers and researchers as a violation of the sanctity of parliament. He said the exemption was announced in the budget speech by the federal finance minister on June 28, 2024, and was included in the proceedings of the National Assembly.

He added that it was part of the income tax manuals of 2022, 2023, and 2024.

However, the Federal Board of Revenue overturned this rebate in a move that directly contradicted the directives of the National Assembly and undermined the authority of parliament. He said that the reversalin the middle of the financial year had caused frustration and anxiety among teachers.

Dr Magsi said that the FBR was not even implementing the decisions made by the Federal Tax Ombudsman. He urged the prime minister to direct the FBR to halt tax deductions.

He also announced full support for the ongoing protest by the FAPUASA Sindh chapter against changes to the criteria that paved the way for the appointment of bureaucrats as vice-chancellors by theSindh government. He said that it was inconceivable for a VC without a PhD to oversee academic councils, syndicates, and selection boards or to confer PhD degrees.

Meanwhile, the participants termed the changes to pension and LPR rules in Punjab as `anti-employee`. They demanded the Punjab government restore the previous pension model, LPR, and leave encashment while ensuring the autonomy of universities and providing them with the required funds.

The association`s General Secretary Dr Muhammad Uzair condemned the violation of the Universities Act in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the vice-chancellors of the universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were unable to advertise for the appointments of teachers without the permission of the provincial secretary, which was undermining their autonomy. He also demanded an immediate resolution to the issue of non-payment of teachers` and employees`salariesinKhyberPakhtunkhwa.

The FAPUASA leadership also mentioned the ongoing financial crisis in the universities of Balochistan and expressed serious concern over the non-payment of salaries. It demanded the Balochistan government and the Higher Education Commission take immediate steps to resolve the issue.