Teachers body gives protest call

LAHORE: FAPUASA Punjab gave a protest call in response to the deprivation of special allowance to teachers and other employees by declaring universities across Punjab as autonomous bodies.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, FAPUASA Punjab President Dr Abdul Sattar Malik and General Secretary Dr Ahtisham Ali rejected the notification issued by the Finance Department Punjab, calling it a continuation of the Punjab government's anti-education policies. Officials of FAPUASA Punjab said that the disparity allowance issued by the federal government was converted into a special allowance and then MPhil and PhD allowance recipients of college cadre were also deprived of their legitimate right which is not acceptable in any case.

They further said that every year increase in salaries of university employees is conditional on the federal/provincial budget, this is the first time that 10% ad hoc relief is given by the government has been included in the salaries of university employees but they have been deprived of 25 per cent increase which reflects the government’s priorities for higher education.

They further said that special allowance should be given to all the teachers of the universities without any discrimination. If the Punjab government did not immediately withdraw the notification, then the teachers and employees of universities across Punjab would boycott the universities for their legitimate rights and if there is a need we can stage a sit-in protest as well for justice.