The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the University of Peshawar has raised an urgent alarm over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s ongoing neglect of public universities, demanding a minimum of Rs50 billion be allocated in the 2025–26 provincial budget.
At an emergency meeting chaired by JAC President Dr. Zakirullah Jan, the committee emphasized that this funding is essential to clear overdue salaries and pensions, restart suspended research initiatives, and restore academic progress across the province’s universities.
Leaders representing Class III, Class IV, and sanitation workers also participated, warning of province-wide protests if the government ignores these critical demands.
The JAC highlighted the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which obligates provincial governments to fund higher education, pointing out that while Punjab and Sindh have honored this responsibility, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to fall short.
They further urged the newly appointed vice chancellors to break their silence and advocate publicly for financial support, warning that failure to act now could severely jeopardize the future of higher education in the province.
