Islamabad: Dr. Mazhar Iqbal, President of the Academic Staff Association at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), issued a dire warning regarding the university’s crippling financial crisis. Dr. Iqbal urgently appealed to the government for a special grant and bailout package of Rs. 5 billion to prevent QAU’s impending financial collapse.
QAU, Pakistan’s leading institution for higher education, is facing a budget deficit of PKR 800 million (over 20%) due to stagnant government funding and soaring inflation. This lack of financial resources has resulted in delayed payments for teaching staff, lab supplies, student scholarships, and even basic office expenses, threatening the university’s ability to function effectively.
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Despite its status as the country’s “Flagship Institution” and its impressive global ranking (315th in QS World University Rankings 2024), QAU receives disproportionately low financial support compared to other universities. Dr. Iqbal pointed to QAU’s achievements under a “meager budget” as justification for the requested bailout package. He further emphasized that this financial injection aligns with the Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N) manifesto’s commitment to increased funding for high-performing universities.
With sufficient financial resources, Dr. Iqbal believes QAU can continue its upward trajectory and potentially reach the top 100 universities globally. The university’s future, and its significant contributions to Pakistan’s educational and research landscape, hinge on the government’s response to this urgent plea for financial support.
