KARACHI – The Sindh government has decided to propose increasing the retirement age of university professors from 60 to 65 years, with a summary to be submitted to the provincial cabinet for approval.
The decision was discussed at a meeting of vice chancellors from 32 public-sector universities in the province, chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah.
Speaking at the meeting, the chief secretary said Sindh provided universities with higher grant-in-aid funding than other provinces. He said public-sector universities across the province were receiving grants totalling Rs44.46 billion.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive policy and clear criteria for establishing new university campuses, saying decisions should take into account both academic requirements and financial considerations.
Shah said pension liabilities had become a major challenge for universities, placing an increasing burden on their finances. He called for discouraging unnecessary recruitment, particularly in non-teaching departments, to reduce financial pressure.
The chief secretary also revealed that vice chancellors had expressed concerns about the implementation of the Right to Information law. According to him, universities were sometimes asked to provide information that had no direct connection with the public interest.
The meeting also discussed financial and administrative matters concerning public-sector universities, including measures to improve financial management and ensure the sustainable use of available resources.