UoP financial crisis: PUTA threatens strike over unpaid salaries

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st May, 2026) Peshawar University Teachers Association (PUTA) Friday dispatched an emergency letter to Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chancellor of University of Peshawar (UoP), highlighting dire personal toll on academic community. The letter describes how teachers, staff and pensioners are struggling to afford basic necessities, including household expenses, children’s education, essential medicines, and utility bills, due to the withheld payments.

The University of Peshawar (UoP) has plunged into a severe financial crisis, leaving administration unable to guarantee salary and pension payments beyond July. The situation reached a critical point last month when the university could only release 50 percent of employee salaries, and officials have warned that there are currently no financial resources available to cover upcoming payroll obligations.

As it stands, approximately Rs 131 million in remaining salaries from March and Rs 162 million in pension payments remain outstanding, leaving staff and retirees in a state of financial limbo.

To avert a total collapse of the institution's operations, PUTA has demanded an immediate release of all arrears and implementation of a permanent system for timely disbursements. Their longterm recovery proposal includes a request for at least Rs 4 billion in special financial assistance in upcoming provincial budget, alongside establishment of a Rs 5 billion pension endowment fund to secure future of retired employees.