PESHAWAR:
The government on Tuesday informed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly that it would not transform the status of around 2,000 employees of the education department, initially hired as temporary or “flexible” teachers, to ad hoc posts.
The KP Department of Higher Education hired the professors under an interim agreement to address the shortage of teachers in public colleges.
The Treasury found itself in a delicate situation in the Provincial Assembly when one of its members supported a notice of appeal submitted by the opposition.
Speaking, PPP Parliamentary Leader Ahmed Kundi in his statement said the government had allocated funds to address the shortage of teachers in public colleges and recruited around 2,000 flexibly hired teachers. “Currently, these professors teach BS and AD programs in 330 colleges.”
He said there was ambiguity over the duration of their employment and their salaries, urging the government to convert their assignments into one-off positions to ensure job security for at least a year.
He added that if professors were fired, the education of students would be seriously affected, as professors have become an integral part of the university system.
In response, Minister of Justice Aftab Alam clarified that recruitment in the Department of Higher Education follows a formal procedure, while the flexible hiring policy was only introduced for emergency situations to avoid any disruption to students’ academic time.
He said that according to government policy, professors could not be directly converted into permanent or ad hoc positions.
He said ad hoc appointments were often challenged in court, increasing pressure on the government to regularize them.
Additionally, the minister said the provincial salary budget has already increased significantly. He added that there is a clear procedure for appointment to permanent employment and it goes through the Public Service Commission.
Supporting Kundi’s call for attention, Treasury member Munir Luqmani said that if the government was to re-recruit teachers, it should first adjust those who are currently teachers through an appropriate mechanism.
Due to prolonged discussions and the absence of the Minister of Higher Education, the Speaker postponed the matter to the next session of the assembly.
Resolution
The assembly also passed a unanimous resolution, urging the federal government to take immediate action regarding payment of salaries and release of 6,000 Pakistani workers imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.
The resolution was presented by ANP member Nisar Baz. He said the House had expressed concern over the situation of thousands of Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia who were facing various difficulties. Although they meet all legal requirements, they experience delays in salary payments and other problems.
It has been reported that around 6,000 workers have not received their salaries for several months, causing severe distress and financial strain on their families.
The gathering urged the federal government to immediately intervene in the matter and, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contact the Saudi authorities to ensure payment of salaries to Pakistani workers.
The resolution also demands that emergency measures be taken to resolve the problems faced by the affected workers so that they can return to their professional activities with dignity.
