Islamabad, 3 june 2025: University of Peshawar leaders have voiced alarm over what they describe as continued neglect from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, warning that the province’s higher education system is teetering on the edge of collapse without urgent financial support.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing faculty, staff, and other stakeholders at the University of Peshawar, convened an emergency session chaired by Dr. Zakirullah Jan.
During the meeting, members demanded a minimum allocation of Rs50 billion in the upcoming 2025–26 provincial budget to sustain operations across public universities.
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The committee highlighted that chronic underfunding has already led to delayed salaries, halted research projects, and deteriorating academic quality.
Participants at the session, which included representatives from Class III, Class IV, and sanitation workers’ associations, issued a stern warning: if immediate action is not taken, they will initiate province-wide demonstrations.
The JAC contended that under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, funding for higher education falls under the provincial government’s jurisdiction.
Committee leaders pointed out that provinces like Punjab and Sindh have remained committed to their academic institutions, providing regular financial assistance. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s inaction stands in stark contrast.
University of Peshawar faculty warned that unless decisive steps are taken, the ongoing financial crunch will only worsen.
Universities are currently grappling with unpaid wages, frozen research budgets, and operational slowdowns that threaten the academic year.
“We Cannot Afford Silence”
Dr. Jan called on recently appointed vice chancellors to speak out publicly, stating that their silence may further endanger the already fragile education sector. He stressed the importance of united action, both within academia and the broader public, to compel the government to meet its obligations.
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“We’re not asking for favors we’re demanding what’s constitutionally due,” Dr. Jan noted. “If our concerns continue to be ignored, the consequences will be felt for generations.”
The University of Peshawar, one of the province’s oldest and most respected institutions, has become a focal point in the broader debate over educational funding and government responsibility. Without intervention, university officials fear a deeper academic decline could be imminent.
