The federal government has taken a decisive step to strengthen Pakistan’s higher education system by approving recommendations to provide Tenure Track System faculty a baseline pay increase of 35 percent. The decision came during the eighth meeting of the task force on faculty pay scales in higher education, chaired by Federal Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal, with representatives from the Higher Education Commission and provincial higher education departments in attendance.
Participants highlighted mounting concerns that TTS pay has remained frozen since 2021, effectively erasing the 35 percent differential that once existed and making it increasingly difficult for universities to attract and retain talented academics. The task force underscored that without qualified faculty the overall quality of higher education could be seriously undermined.
In approving recommendations for the TTS salary adjustment, the task force also directed that improved pay be linked to strict enforcement of performance indicators so that compensation aligns with teaching, research and service standards. The federal minister instructed the HEC to work closely with provincial governments to secure necessary budget increases for universities to implement the revised pay scales sustainably.
Recognising that doctoral qualifications vary in quality across institutions, the task force recommended targeted incentives for academics who earned their PhDs from the world’s top 50 universities, ensuring that recruitment and retention policies reward globally recognised training and expertise.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that promoting merit, quality and talent within higher education is vital for Pakistan’s development and said the government will pursue concrete measures to implement the agreed reforms. The approved move to restore a meaningful baseline for TTS pay is intended to stabilise academic staffing and strengthen the nation’s tertiary education sector.
