Due to the continuous increase in fees at public universities, even students from middle-class backgrounds are struggling to pay. At Karachi University alone, 35% of students owe fees totaling 1.76 billion rupees. After persistent student protests, the university administration has shown some willingness to provide concessions. A recent media report has raised concern that an international financial institution has suggested making public universities “self-sustainable.” The proposal calls for raising educational standards, reducing administrative staff, and includes a more alarming recommendation: federal and provincial governments should cease all grants to public universities. Instead, these universities should operate solely on student fees and seek additional income through other avenues.
As of last year, there were 160 public universities in Pakistan, with around 60 private universities operating. Nearly 2 million students are enrolled in public universities, while enrollment in private institutions is comparatively low. Public universities span the entire country, from major cities to smaller towns, with campuses located in remote regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Abbottabad, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Nawabshah. Private universities, by contrast, are mainly situated in larger cities. Public universities offer a broad range of research disciplines, from science, technology, agriculture, and IT to general arts and fine arts. Only a few private universities offer substantial research in science and economics, and most private institutions lack full departments in Urdu, Sindhi, and basic sciences. Most public universities operate primarily on federal grants, as provincial funding is limited. Sindh leads in providing grants to its universities. Public university fees are generally lower than operational costs, making government grants essential to their sustainability.
Since the turn of the century, fees in general and professional universities have increased by several hundred percent, yet many universities remain financially strained. At institutions like Federal Urdu University and universities in Balochistan, financial troubles are so severe that faculty and staff have not been paid salaries or pensions for months, leading them to protest publicly.
A senior professor from Karachi University noted that private donors typically fund elite institutions rather than public universities serving lower-income communities. During the previous government, under IMF pressure, grants to public universities were significantly reduced. At one point, there was even consideration to sell university-owned land to address budget shortfalls, though this proposal was rejected by Dr. Banuri, a former HEC chairman. He argued that selling university assets would create a new “land mafia,” undermining transparency and stripping universities of valuable property. If this revenue stream were exhausted, universities would face even greater financial challenges.
Professor Zakaria Sajid from Karachi University previously mentioned that in the United States, the private sector generously supports public universities. For instance, a failed industrial plant owner might donate it to a university, while a wealthy alumnus may endow the university with significant assets. However, such philanthropy is rare in Pakistan. In Western countries, universities often patent and market products developed through their research, with a portion of the revenue supporting university operations.
Dr. Mohammad Irfan Aziz from Urdu University analyzed the situation, stating that access to education and research funding is a fundamental right and the state’s primary responsibility. Public universities play a crucial role in providing affordable, high-quality education. In contrast, private institutions prioritize financial returns, leading to the commercialization of education and limiting access to higher education to certain social classes. Just as state support is essential for the judiciary and legislative systems to ensure equal access and reduce class influences, it is equally necessary for education, where the focus should be on public welfare rather than profit.
The state’s role in funding educational institutions is essential for national intellectual growth, economic prosperity, and social progress. If the state stops funding universities, it overlooks the broad developmental role that education plays. Local and national priorities need to be preserved through funding for institutions that reflect these values. In Pakistan, the number of public universities has more than doubled over the past 24 years. Some universities, like H.E.J. Karachi, have patented products, while Dow Medical University established facilities to provide affordable healthcare services with revenue from medical facilities serving the city.
It’s said that the Virtual University is the only public university that doesn’t require grants, while others cannot operate without them. Some professors argue that when fees increase in urban areas, students are forced to protest, as most cannot afford these hikes. Given the challenges in urban areas, students from smaller towns would struggle even more. If the government adopts international recommendations, Pakistan risks falling further behind in higher education.