Financial crisis grips 20 universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: In a startling revelation on Tuesday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Ghulam Ali disclosed that at least 20 universities in the province are grappling with a severe financial crisis. This dire situation has raised concerns about the stability of higher education institutions in the region.

Among the institutions affected by this fiscal turmoil, the Engineering University and Technology Peshawar stands out, reporting a staggering loss of more than Rs 9.77 million rupees, as confirmed by official documents. The University of Peshawar isn’t faring much better, revealing an annual deficit of Rs 4.67 million, according to the Governor’s statement.

Nine more arrested in MDCAT test leak case

The crisis extends beyond these two institutions, with the Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan grappling with an annual loss of Rs 43.4 million. The University of Agriculture in Peshawar is also in the red, reporting a loss of Rs 18.77 million. Meanwhile, Bacha Khan University in Charsadda is facing a deficit of over Rs 30 million, Swabi University reports losses totaling Rs 15 million, and the Benazir University in Shringal is dealing with Rs 7 million in losses.

Governor Ghulam Ali acknowledged the severity of the situation and expressed the government’s commitment to resolving the financial crisis gripping these universities. He noted that part of the problem stemmed from excessive recruitment in some of these institutions, which contributed to their deteriorating financial health.