revenue shortfall in Balochistan’s public sector universities is disrupting academic activities in institutions across the province.

Against this backdrop, Quetta, the provincial capital, has become a showcase for the various problems associated with a dysfunctional and underfunded higher education system.

All three major public sector universities in the city - Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), University of Balochistan, and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University - are under severe financial stress and struggling against gaping budgetary deficits.

Financial constraints and administrative mismanagement are just two of the challenges that these institutions are facing. The brunt of such a predicament is borne by the academic staff, students and the administration.

The aggrieved have ‘boycotted’ classes several times over the past three months to register their protest. However, the relevant authorities have yet to accept their demands.

Noman Khan, a lecturer and president of the BUITEMS Staff Association, claims that the academic staff has not been paid for two months. “It is getting very hard to survive… let alone resume academic activities,” he tells The News on Sunday.

Khan also accuses the university administration of malpractice and nepotism. “All the key positions in the university have been assigned to junior officers. They have brought the university to the brink of economic collapse,” says Khan.

The Staff Association is demanding the immediate release of outstanding dues, house requisition and health allowances for academic staff and an increase in both the provincial funds allocated for higher education and the HEC budget.

The number of students enrolled currently at BUITEMS is 8,300. The varsity employs more than 1,300 facility members. The total expenditure of the university is Rs 2,350 million. Currently its deficit stands at Rs 850 million.

A crisis of a similar nature is brewing at the University of Balochistan (UOB), the oldest higher education institution in the province. Here too, the academic staff and the employees have been protesting against non-payment of salaries, lack of funds and administrative neglect.

A sit-in was organised in front of the vice chairman’s office in UOB. According to some faculty members, they were last paid three months ago.

The teachers and employees have been protesting. On April 12, they announced that they would be boycotting classes and the examinations would be postponed if their dues are not cleared soon.

Balochistan University has remained closed for 14 days and its affiliate, Quetta Law College, for 25 days.

UOB Academic Staff Association president Dr Kaleem Ullah Barech says that the university staff has been making do without their salaries for three months.

All three major public sector universities in the city are under severe financial stress and struggling against gaping budgetary deficits. Financial constraints and administrative mismanagement are just two of the challenges these institutions are facing. The brunt of the predicament is borne by the academic staff, students and the administration. 

“The current financial grants from the federal and provincial governments are insufficient. These funds do not cover the expenses of the institution,” he adds. According to him, nepotism and corruption are at the root of the mismanagement.

UOB finance director Jiand Jamalidni categorically denies allegations of malpractice. He concedes that the funds disbursed by the authorities are not enough to run the varsity effectively.

“The costs have risen because of inflation but the funds allocated by the HEC are the same as they were in 2016-2017,” says Jamalidni. “The university generates only 19-20 per cent of its revenue from student fees,” he points out.

Jamalidni says that a lack of adequate funding has caused a budgetary deficit which, in turn, has brought down the quality of education and caused disruptions in the academic activities because the university cannot even pay its faculty.

With 55 departments and 15,000 enrolled students, the UOB is the biggest university in the province. The number of academic staff and other employees is currently more than 1,500.

The varsity’s total budget is Rs 3.5 billion. Its deficit now stands at Rs 1.5 billion.

Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, an all-women university in Quetta, is also not immune to administrative and financial issues.

The faculty claim that nepotistic practices are commonplace and appointments are made based on ‘recommendations’ and not merit.

The Employees Welfare Association of the varsity has recently presented a charter of demands to the authorities. It says that the competent authorities must reverse ‘biased’ inquiries and appoint senior staff to administrative positions.

The number of currently enrolled students at the university is 6,000. There are 500 faculty members and ad hoc teachers.

The total annual budget of the campus is Rs 1,100 million. The current budget deficit is estimated to be Rs 150 million.

On April 17, the Education Department held the 9^th meeting of its financial commission to discuss the financial constraints affecting the public sector universities.

Balochistan government’s annual grant in aid for 12 public sector universities is only Rs 2.5 billion. The HEC is paying about Rs 3.20 billion for salaries.

The massive budget shortfall is affecting the core operations and educational programmes of these varsities.

Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qauddus Bizenjo has directed the Finance Department to release the funds needed for the salaries and pensions of academic staff and other employees.

The chief minister has also approved the release of Rs 150 million for the salaries and pensions of the BOU employees.

Bizenjo says the government will form a high-level committee to investigate the financial crunch and find a permanent solution.

He says the committee will ensure that the dedicated funds are used solely for the payment of salaries and pensions.

Jaffar Khan Kakar is a freelance journalist. He tweets @Jaffar_Journo