PUASA to release white paper on Punjab University VC performance

A meeting of the Executive Council of the Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) was held on 14 July 2026 at the University Executive Club under the chairmanship of Acting President Professor Dr. Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi. The proceedings were conducted by Secretary of PUASA, Engineer Professor Dr. Kamran Abid.

The meeting reviewed in detail the financial, administrative and academic situation of the University of the Punjab. The Executive Council expressed deep regret and concern that the Charter of Demands submitted by the Academic Staff Association nearly five months ago along with the collective demands of the teaching community presented on various occasions had been consistently ignored.

Despite several meetings, written reminders and detailed negotiations, no meaningful progress was made. Instead of addressing the issues, retaliatory actions have reportedly been initiated against teachers and their elected representatives in an attempt to suppress their voices.

This has caused widespread disappointment among the faculty and raised serious concerns regarding the impartiality of the university administration. The Executive Council also expressed grave concern over the fact that Punjab University is currently facing the largest budget deficit in its history amounting to Rs. 3.6 billion.

During the past 14 months, approximately Rs. 4.8 billion in cash reserves has been utilized while nearly Rs. 1 billion collected from self-supporting programs under the One Account Policy has also been exhausted. Furthermore, according to the official financial statement submitted by the University to the Punjab Assembly, only about Rs. 230 million (23 crore) in cash reserves now remain.

The Council declared that this situation poses a serious threat to the University’s financial stability, administrative capacity and future making an independent, transparent, and impartial review of its financial management and administrative decisions imperative.

The Executive Council unanimously decided that since all sincere efforts to resolve these issues at the Vice Chancellor’s level had failed, the Association would now formally approach the Provincial Minister for Higher Education, the Chancellor (Governor of Punjab) and the Chief Minister of Punjab to seek their immediate intervention in addressing the deteriorating financial, administrative and governance situation at the University.

The Executive Council further announced that a comprehensive press conference would be held on 21 July 2026, during which a White Paper on the Vice Chancellor’s performance would be released. The document will present facts relating to the University’s financial management, administration and governance supported by documentary evidence before the media, faculty members, students and other stakeholders.

The Executive Council reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the prestige of Punjab University, protecting the constitutional and legal rights of teachers, upholding merit, ensuring transparency and preserving institutional autonomy.

It also made it clear that any attempt to harass, intimidate, defame or retaliate against any faculty member particularly women faculty members for speaking out against administrative irregularities, financial or administrative mismanagement or unlawful actions would not be tolerated.

The Academic Staff Association pledged its full solidarity with every affected teacher and committed to protecting their constitutional, legal and professional rights through all appropriate forums.