The Peshawar High Court on Thursday expressed concern over the worsening financial crisis faced by public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed authorities to take immediate steps to address the issue.
A bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed ordered the provincial chief secretary to convene a meeting of all stakeholders, including relevant departmental secretaries, to discuss solutions.
The court directed that a detailed report be prepared after the meeting and submitted during the next hearing.
The bench also summoned the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, on May 5 in connection with a petition regarding delays in pension payments and arrears for retired staff of the University of Peshawar.
The petition was filed by Dr Nasrullah Jan and other former university employees who claim that pension payments and arrears have been repeatedly delayed.
During the hearing, Dr Johar Ali informed the court that the university was facing a financial shortfall of Rs2.07 billion and required additional funds from the federal government.
He said the institution was struggling to meet basic financial obligations, including salaries and pensions for staff.
According to officials, around 25,000 students are currently enrolled at the university, while the financial situation continues to worsen.
The bench also expressed concern over rising university fees, observing that the increasing cost of education was beyond the reach of many students.
The judges suggested that fees should be charged according to students’ financial capacity, while the government should allocate funds or scholarships for those who cannot afford higher education.
The court emphasised the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle financial deficits, resource shortages and other structural challenges faced by universities in the province.
Officials from the provincial higher education department informed the court that funding was being released under a specific formula and that meetings were ongoing to address the situation.
However, the bench remarked that if corrective measures were being taken, their impact should also be visible.