Academic and administration staff of UAF demonestrate protest rally against non-release of HEC funds and putting the HEC under ministry of professional and technology training

In consequence of the government decision of putting the Higher Education Commission under the Ministry of Professional and Technical Training, and non-release of recurring funds of Rs. 6 billion to HEC, academic and administrative staff of University of Agriculture Faisalabad while observing the Black Day, demonstrated a protest rally from administration block to main Jail Road with black armbands and placards chanting slogans against the government decision of ending the autonomous status of HEC. Pertinent to mention that finance division did not release a sum of Rs. 6 billion recurring grant to HEC which put the universities in a severe financial paucity making them unable to pay utility bills and salaries to the staff. Addressing the protesters, ASA president Prof. Dr. Sheikh Munir Ahmad told that in result of the non-release of funds, UAF will suffer 181 million rupees. He warned that if this attitude towards higher education continues, the standard in public sector universities will be no different from the yellow government schools. “The decision has created panic and severe resentment among university administration as well as the teaching and non-teaching staff” he added. ASA General Secretary Amir Saeed Rana while giving the details of the protest in the days ahead told that faculty and administrative staff will continue their protest by demonstration of rallies wearing black armbands up to Thursday. He further told that on Friday the whole staff of the university would be on streets to launch massive protest of sit in strike on Jail Road. He warned the government, if the demands were not fulfilled, they will intensify the protest by locking the offices and class rooms. The participants of the protest said that it is clear that the government was trying to shut down universities as education was not its priority. “The government was compelling teachers and employees of the universities to take to the streets while they were already hit by excessive load shedding, raising inflation, and deteriorating law & order situation in the country” they added. It is to be kept in view that University of Agriculture Faisalabad being a largest boarding institution of the country has to make the education accessible and affordable to the students of poor and neglected farmers of the rural areas on stratified merit, but because of non-payment of recurring amount to HEC, the varsity administration was facing immense difficulties in paying salaries, utility bills and even running the university business on day to day basis.