LAHORE: The Executive Council of the Federation of Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has appreciated the Sindh government for increasing its higher education budget from Rs22 billion to Rs35 billion.

FAPUASA Central President Dr Amjad Magsi, Secretary General Dr M Uzair and others also raised serious concerns over the end of the 25% tax rebate exemption for university teachers. They emphasized that ending this exemption would lead to lower salaries for many university staff.

Provincial President of FAPUASA Balochistan Kaleemullah Bareech suggested that FAPUASA should hold meetings with authorities in Islamabad to address budget and tax rebate issues. FAPUASA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Dr Humayun Khan emphasized that in provinces where there was already a shortage of money to pay salaries, the situation would worsen due to the end of tax exemption.

Islamabad Chapter Secretary General Dr. M. Jadoon Khan pointed out that researchers and teachers at universities worldwide benefit from 100% tax credits.