At a meeting of vice-chancellors from 32 public universities, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah said the province provided universities with higher grants-in-aid than other provinces. Public universities in Sindh are being allocated grants worth Rs44.46 billion.
He said a comprehensive policy and clear criteria should be developed for establishing new campuses to ensure that decisions take into account academic requirements and financial needs.
The chief secretary said a summary proposing an increase in the retirement age of university professors from 60 to 65 years would be sent to the provincial cabinet for approval.
He further stated that vice-chancellors had also expressed concerns regarding the Right to Information law, arguing that information was sometimes requested without a direct connection to the public interest.
Asif Haider Shah said pension liabilities had become a major challenge for universities. To reduce the financial burden, he stressed the need to discourage unnecessary recruitment, particularly in non-teaching departments.
