{"id":3983,"date":"2026-05-11T06:48:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T06:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=3983"},"modified":"2026-05-11T06:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T06:48:07","slug":"hec-proposes-rs100bn-recurring-budget-for-universities-in-2026-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=3983","title":{"rendered":"HEC proposes Rs100bn recurring budget for universities in 2026-27"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission has requested the government to increase the recurring budget for universities from the existing Rs65 billion to Rs100 billion for the fiscal year 2026-27 to help stabilise institutional finances, maintain core academic operations and strengthen Pakistan\u2019s national research framework.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to documents available with Dawn, the HEC estimated that universities would require Rs138 billion in recurring grants for the upcoming fiscal year. However, the government communicated an Indicative Budgetary Ceiling (IBC) of Rs65 billion, an amount that has remained unchanged since the 2017-18 fiscal year despite rising enrolment, expansion of universities, inflation and government-announced salary increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The documents noted that these factors have created an additional financial burden of Rs120 billion on the higher education sector. In response, the HEC is now seeking at least Rs100 billion as a recurring grant for public sector universities in the 2026-27 financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The documents stated that public sector universities, especially federally chartered institutions relying on federal recurring support through HEC, are facing severe financial stress. The ongoing shortage of resources is negatively affecting academic functions and operational sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HEC also pointed out that Pakistan\u2019s higher education financing remains below regional standards and requires gradual enhancement under the National Fiscal Pact 2025. Under the pact, both federal and provincial governments committed to progressively increasing education spending as a share of GDP to ensure quality, access and equity in higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the documents, the continued stagnation in federal recurring grants since 2017-18 has widened the structural financing gap in the higher education sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HEC further stated that around Rs10 billion is urgently needed for 24 federally chartered universities and HEC-funded national centres, which are considered key parts of Pakistan\u2019s national research framework and depend entirely on federal support for operational sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explaining the proposed Rs35 billion increase, the HEC said Rs10 billion would be allocated for federally chartered universities, another Rs10 billion for financially stressed public sector universities, Rs10 billion for new research initiatives and Rs5 billion for anticipated salary increases for Tenure Track System faculty in line with directions issued by the Islamabad High Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources within the HEC said Executive Director HEC Prof Dr Ziaul Haq recently wrote to the ministries of education and finance requesting the required budget allocation for the upcoming financial year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission has requested the government to increase the recurring budget for universities from the existing Rs65 billion to Rs100 billion for the fiscal year 2026-27 to… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3984,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[2156,35],"class_list":["post-3983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan","tag-higher-education-commission","tag-pakistan"],"yoast_head":"\nHEC proposes Rs100bn recurring budget for universities in 2026-27 - World Watch Alert<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"HEC has sought a Rs100bn recurring budget for universities in 2026-27, citing financial stress, inflation, rising enrolment and the need to sustain research and academic operations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=3983\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HEC proposes Rs100bn recurring budget for universities in 2026-27 - 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