PESHAWAR: The employees of Agriculture University Peshawar (AUP) including teaching faculty and administrative staff have been deprived of salaries and pensions for last two months.
The looming delay in the salary before Eid-ul-Fitr had added woes to the worries of the already suffering employees. The staffers had demanded of the Governor and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take notice of the issue and play their imperative role in ensuring payment of their pending salaries ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The provincial key agricultural university which is in severe financial straits with its employees standing deprived of their two months’ salaries has emerged as a test case, flagrantly exposing those elected to power as to how extent they are committed to the development of the agriculture sector which is a backbone to the country’s economy.
President Officers Association of the university Ehsan Ullah says as Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, hundreds of employees at the University grapple with the harsh reality of be
ing unable to partake in the celebrations due to financial constraints.
He said that the employees had not been paid for the month of February despite repeated assurances on the part of quarters concerned and added that few days are left in the month of March to end, too without salaries. He opined that their plea for timely salaries resonates not only as a matter of basic rights but also as a symbol of dignity and respect for their dedicated service to the university.
With the agricultural sector being the backbone of the country’s economy, he said the stability of institutions like Agricultural University Peshawar is paramount to its continued growth and prosperity. As the Eid draws near, he said all eyes are on the authorities to provide much-needed relief to the university and its dedicated workforce, he remarked.
Expressing his frustration, he warned of potential protests and demonstrations if their demands were not met promptly. In the midst of the crisis, he said that the Vice Chancellor of “The Uni
versity of Agriculture, Peshawar” has been tirelessly endeavoring to secure funds, navigating bureaucratic hurdles and exhausting all avenues to put the institution back on track.
However, the roadblocks encountered, thus far, have left the university in limbo, with uncertainty looming over their financial well-being, he added. The Higher Education Commission (HEC), the concerned department responsible for allocating funds, has been accused of employing delaying tactics, citing constitutional provisions such as the 18th amendment. This bureaucratic impasse has only exacerbated the financial woes of the university staff.
In a concerning development, the university is grappling with a severe financial crisis, with a total shortfall of Rs 400 million looming over its operations for the final quarters. The university, which plays a pivotal role in fortifying the agricultural sector of the country, finds itself in a precarious situation as it struggles to meet its financial obligations.
According to university
officials, a staggering Rs 150 million is required each month to cover salaries, while an additional Rs 50 million is earmarked for pension disbursements. Despite these pressing needs, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has yet to release a promised grant of Rs 320 million, exacerbating the university’s financial woes.
The university operates with about 50 percent of its expenditure being met through its own generated revenues, on the basis of which the university stands distinguished among other universities of the country, the recent financial strain has pushed it to the brink. .
The provincial government has so far provided Rs 7.5 crore for the university which is an appreciative move, but is insufficient to address the university’s grave financial situation. He said that employees had great expectations from the government to get the issue resolved and ensure the pending salaries issued and enable the employees to celebrate the Eid.