Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal called for a permanent, transparent, and sustainable mechanism to address salary disparities among faculty members under the Tenure Track System (TTS) on Friday. Speaking while chairing a meeting in Islamabad, Iqbal stressed the need for a clear and objective formula to ensure appropriate differentiation in the pay structures of Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors.
Iqbal called for an independent mechanism for future salary adjustments to prevent recurring disparities and avoid repeated deliberations at the government level. He expressed concern over the departure of talented Pakistani professors to other countries for better opportunities, stating that the country’s investment in educating and training its academic talent must be protected through fair remuneration and a sustainable compensation structure.
The minister directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to support the proposed salary adjustment framework with accurate data and clearly defined financial implications. This framework is to include existing disparities, inflation-based adjustments, and a forward-looking mechanism linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Iqbal cautioned the HEC against presenting incomplete or inaccurate information, warning that the Commission would be held accountable if it was found to have misled the forum.
The meeting, which discussed measures to resolve existing TTS salary disparities and establish a predictable and transparent framework for future salary revisions, was attended by Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani, senior officials from the Finance Ministry and HEC, the Member Science and Technology of the Planning Commission, and nominated focal persons from universities and other relevant stakeholders.
