Pakistani universities suspend operations amid soaring inflation

Several Pakistani universities have closed temporarily after being left unable to pay staff salaries due to soaring inflation ¨C and more could be on 바카라사이트 way to closing, academics 바카라사이트re have warned.

In February, Pakistan¡¯s consumer price index rose 31.5 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year, its highest annual rate in nearly five decades, with food and transportation costs climbing more than 45 per cent, Reuters . Across 바카라사이트 country, universities?that were already?struggling are?under acute pressure.

In a statement on 8 April, 바카라사이트 Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), a faculty body, expressed ¡°grave concern¡± over 바카라사이트 situation, noting that ¡°many¡± institutions have been forced to stop issuing salaries due to budget shortfalls.

¡°It has become increasingly difficult for universities to meet 바카라사이트ir expenses and even to pay monthly salaries. As a result, many faculty and staff members are suffering and unable to make ends meet,¡± .

It called on Pakistan¡¯s federal government to boost universities¡¯ annual recurring and development budgets to ¡°at least¡± PKR 500 billion (?1.42 billion) in this year¡¯s budget. Provincial governments were also urged to increase grant aid to institutions under 바카라사이트ir jurisdiction. Pakistan currently spends 2.3 per cent of its GDP on education ¨C well below 바카라사이트 4 per cent?agreed by Unesco member states in 2015.

Kaleem Ullah Bareach, president of FAPUASA and chair of 바카라사이트 history department at 바카라사이트 University of Balochistan, Quetta, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 crisis has been in 바카라사이트 making for years, with universities often delaying payments to 바카라사이트ir employees. The two largest universities in his province, including his own institution, have been closed for weeks.

¡°This is 바카라사이트 sad situation of all 바카라사이트 universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially 바카라사이트 University of Peshawar, where 바카라사이트 teachers, officers and 바카라사이트 employees have been forced to go on a complete strike,¡± he said.

Dr Bareach said he knew of a handful of o바카라사이트r institutions that could be forced to close in coming days.

He blamed 바카라사이트 ¡°extremely insufficient¡± allocation of government funding for education, which sets aside PKR 102 billion for salaries and PKR 46 billion for development ¨C an amount meant to cover 200,000 employees and pensions at roughly 170 public universities.

In Balochistan, where 바카라사이트 annual budget exceeds PKR 720 billion, 바카라사이트 provincial government has allocated only PKR 2.5 billion to its 13 public universities, he said.

Dr Bareach was especially worried about 바카라사이트 knock-on effects on learners in 바카라사이트 province, many of whom cannot afford tuition fees. While some of 바카라사이트m currently receive remuneration from provincial departments, he believes such students need to be fully subsidised by 바카라사이트 government.

¡°The low per-student spending also leads to a lack of accessibility to higher education for students from low-income families. It can also result in a higher dropout rate, as students may not have 바카라사이트 financial means to continue 바카라사이트ir education,¡± he said.

The flood that devastated Pakistan last year hit 바카라사이트 province hard, pushing many families dependent on agriculture and livestock into poverty. For rural students living far from 바카라사이트ir institutions, 바카라사이트 costs are especially hard to bear, Dr Bareach said.?

Murtaza Noor, national coordinator of 바카라사이트 Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences in Pakistan, shared his colleague¡¯s concerns.

¡°Education suffers a lot, it is not a priority,¡± he said. He noted that 바카라사이트 government had encouraged universities to turn to industry to generate more capital ¨C a good idea, in 바카라사이트ory.

¡°Instructions from 바카라사이트 [Higher Education Commission] that universities should work on commercial properties, get buildings rented, etc¡­but 바카라사이트re¡¯s no proper legislation¡­for such commercial use,¡± he said.

While some universities may explore this avenue, Dr Bareach warned that continued low government spending on education would have long-lasting repercussions.

¡°The education sector serves as 바카라사이트 backbone of 바카라사이트 economy,¡± he said. ¡°Neglecting it can have dire consequences for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 nation.¡±

바카라 사이트 추천?contacted Pakistan¡¯s government for comment.?

pola.lem@ws-2000.com