Sindh Public Universities Seek Urgent Financial Aid to Avert Default

In a collective plea, Vice Chancellors (VCs) from 21 public universities in Sindh have urgently appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Rs 16 billion in funding to prevent an impending financial crisis.

Expressing grave concerns, the VCs highlighted the suspension of federal grants to provincial universities, including the 29 public sector institutions in Sindh. Since 2018, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has withheld over Rs 13 billion in federal funding for Sindh’s universities, exacerbating financial strain.

The letter to the prime minister underscored the critical need for stabilizing and supporting higher education institutions, drawing parallels with successful educational investments in countries like China, Korea, Malaysia, and India.

Amid Pakistan’s financial challenges, the VCs emphasized the imperative of bolstering investment in higher and technical education to navigate the crisis effectively.

Notably, the HEC ceased funding provincially chartered universities following a significant reduction in its federal grant, plummeting from Rs 65 billion to Rs 25 billion. Originally seeking Rs 126 billion to support 160 universities nationwide, the HEC’s funding halt to provincial institutions has left universities reliant on provincial financing.

With federal funding slashed, Sindh’s universities are grappling with fiscal uncertainty, compelling urgent action from the government to mitigate the impending default.