Teachers and staff members of the Agriculture University Peshawar staged a protest within the university premises, demanding immediate payment of their long-overdue salaries and pensions. Chanting slogans against the university administration, the demonstrators shut down offices in a bid to draw attention to what they described as a worsening financial crisis.
Protesters blamed the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Jehan Bakht, for poor financial management, alleging that his policies have led to the current crisis. They claimed that the VC has withheld funds allocated for staff payments, pushing employees into severe financial hardship. The protestors also pointed to declining student enrollment as a consequence of the institution’s ongoing instability.
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According to university officials, employees have not received their dues for the past 10 months. The administration acknowledged the crisis but attributed it to a lack of funding from the provincial government. “We need at least Rs200 million to pay our 1,200 employees and pensioners,” said Dr. Jehan Bakht, who also heads four other universities on the same campus.
The issue reflects a broader funding crisis affecting universities across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In August 2024, it was reported that both Islamia College University and the Agriculture University had gone two months without paying employees. Despite repeated requests for assistance, the provincial government has yet to release sufficient funds to bridge the gap.
Dr. Bakht added that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has cut university budgets by 35% since 2018, further deepening the financial woes. While a Rs1.7 million grant is expected next week, officials admit it will do little to resolve the overall shortfall. Faculty and staff, meanwhile, warn that unless swift action is taken, the situation could escalate further.
