The eighth meeting of the task force on faculty pay scales in higher education, chaired by Federal Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal, approved recommendations to restore a 35 percent baseline salary for teachers in the Tenure Track System (TTS). Representatives from the Higher Education Commission and provincial higher education departments attended and underlined mounting concerns about frozen salaries and a shrinking pay gap that is undermining universities’ ability to attract skilled faculty.
Participants noted that TTS salaries have effectively been frozen since 2021 and the 35 percent differential in the scale has largely vanished, creating acute recruitment and retention challenges. The task force concluded that targeted reforms in faculty pay are essential to preserve the quality and competitiveness of Pakistan’s higher education sector.
The federal minister directed that improved salaries be linked to strictly enforced performance indicators to ensure accountability and merit. He also instructed the Higher Education Commission to work closely with provincial governments to secure increased university budgets so that the approved faculty pay adjustments can be sustained.
Deliberations also recommended special incentives for PhD holders from the world’s top 50 universities, recognizing that not all doctoral qualifications are equal and that selective rewards can help attract global-standard talent. The task force stressed that strengthening faculty pay and performance measures is critical to maintaining academic standards and supporting Pakistan’s broader development goals.
Officials said the government remains committed to concrete action to promote merit, quality and talent within higher education, with the Higher Education Commission and provincial authorities tasked with overseeing implementation of the new faculty pay measures.
