Balochistan Government Abolishes Multiple University Allowances, Triggers Province-Wide Strike

Quetta:The Balochistan government has announced a major revision in the pay structure of university employees by eliminating six existing allowances and introducing a single “PSU Allowance” in their place. This move has sparked widespread concern and unrest among academic and administrative staff across the province.

According to a notification issued by the Department of Colleges, Higher & Technical Education, the following allowances have been discontinued: Utility Allowance, House Requisition, Orderly Allowance, Hardship Allowance, Technical Subject Allowance, and Special Allowance. In their place, the government has introduced a PSU Allowance based on 2022’s Basic Pay Scale—**25% for universities located in Quetta** and **35% for those outside Quetta**.

The notification clarifies that the new allowance will **not apply to contract, ad-hoc, or TTS employees**, and will have **no impact on pension or gratuity calculations**. Additionally, any future changes to allowances will require formal approval from the provincial cabinet.

Universities have been instructed to use **government and HEC grants exclusively for salaries and pensions**, while all other operational expenses must be met through **their own revenue generation**, aiming to reduce reliance on the provincial government.

The sudden cut in allowances has raised fears of a **de facto salary reduction**, leading to strong reactions from faculty and staff unions. The **Balochistan Grand Alliance**, representing employees of multiple universities, observed a **successful “Black Day” protest** on Thursday and Friday. A complete **pen-down strike and class boycott** is scheduled for **Monday, May 26**, across all public universities and government institutions.

Farid Achakzai, General Secretary of the Academic Staff Association at the University of Balochistan, condemned the government’s action as **illegal and unjustified**, calling on all teaching and non-teaching staff to fully participate in the Monday strike. He urged the Employees and Officers Associations to **suspend transport services** and **cease all administrative operations** in protest.

An emergency meeting of the ASA’s executive body has been called for **Monday at 10:00 AM** at the association’s office to finalize further actions.

The standoff marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the academic community and the provincial authorities, with employees demanding the immediate restoration of their previously approved allowances and a transparent dialogue on future policy changes.