Protests Halt Operations at AJK University Due to Unpaid Dues
Srinagar — The University of ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ (UAJK) in Muzaffarabad is experiencing a disruption in teaching and administrative activities due to protests by teachers and staff regarding unpaid salary increments. This has led to the closure of all five campuses, affecting over 8,000 students.
Employees claim that they have not received government-approved salary raises and allowances for the past eight months, including Ad Hoc Relief Allowance (ARA) and Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA). Despite official notifications, the university allegedly did not receive the necessary funds to fulfill these commitments, leaving employees without their rightful earnings.
Reports suggest that the financial crisis at UAJK runs deeper than a temporary mismanagement issue. The university’s anticipated income for the fiscal year 2025–26 is approximately Rs1.85 billion, while expenses have surpassed Rs2.52 billion, resulting in an annual deficit exceeding Rs670 million. Including past liabilities and recent pay increments, the funding gap exceeds Rs1 billion.
Over 85% of the university’s expenditure is attributed to essential costs such as salaries and pensions. Salaries consume around 63% of the budget, with pensions comprising more than 22%, leaving limited resources for infrastructure maintenance, laboratory upgrades, and academic enhancements.
According to Dawn newspaper, the university’s financial pressure escalated after restructuring its multi-campus system. While revenue-generating assets were divided following the upgrade of Mirpur, Kotli, and Rawalakot campuses into separate universities, pension and retirement responsibilities remained primarily with UAJK, resulting in an estimated annual pension burden of Rs560 million.
Despite stagnant government grants over the years, a one-time special allocation last year provided temporary relief but failed to address the structural deficit. The share of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission in the overall budget has decreased as salary and pension expenses rise.
Changes in policies have further strained revenue streams, with the elimination of private BA/BSc and MA/MSc programs, once significant sources of fee income, costing the university considerable annual revenue. The expansion of BS programs in government colleges has diverted enrollments, reducing tuition revenue.
The administration has implemented cost-cutting measures, including a recruitment freeze, reductions in non-salary expenditures, and energy-saving initiatives. Nevertheless, officials acknowledge that these actions cannot bridge the long-term financial gap.
Experts caution that prolonged disruptions could disrupt the academic calendar and compromise higher education standards in the region. Negotiations are ongoing, causing anxiety among students and parents. The situation underscores broader weaknesses in the financial framework of public higher education in PoK.
