Sindh Government Increases Salaries of Vice Chancellors at Public Sector Universities

In a significant move, the Government of Sindh has announced a substantial increase in the salaries of Vice Chancellors (VCs) of public sector universities across the province. The decision aligns the compensation of VCs with the highest Tenure Track System (TTS) scale, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving the academic leadership in higher education institutions.

According to an official notification issued by the Department of Universities and Boards, and approved by the Sindh Chief Minister, the new minimum salary for VCs will now stand at Rs684,450. This represents an annual increment of approximately Rs20,000. Additionally, a ‘vice-chancellor allowance,’ set at 20% of the basic salary, will now surpass Rs136,000, pushing the total monthly remuneration for VCs to over Rs820,000.

The notification emphasizes that this revised pay structure will apply to all current VCs for the remainder of their terms. Notably, five new VCs were appointed in Sindh just a day before this announcement, while several others are in the midst of their second, third, or fourth years of service. These adjustments will therefore have a considerable positive impact on their earnings.

This move follows an investigative report published by The Express Group on June 20, which highlighted the disparities in salaries among VCs in the province. The report pointed out that some VCs were earning salaries only marginally higher than those of senior professors, while others, due to the absence of a fixed upper limit, were drawing salaries ranging from Rs1 million to Rs3 million per month. It was also revealed that a former VC earned approximately Rs3 million monthly during his tenure without the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities or the Chief Minister.

Despite this increase, the new notification does not specify an upper salary limit for VCs, labeling the revision as a ‘standardization/rationalization of salaries.’ This leaves room for potential variances in salaries, depending on the specific terms and agreements made at the time of appointment.

In a related development, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad recently approved a minimum monthly salary of Rs1 million for VCs of public universities across Pakistan. However, this decision has yet to be implemented at the provincial level in Sindh due to delays by the HEC.

The salary hike for VCs in Sindh is seen as a crucial step toward addressing long-standing issues related to compensation in higher education leadership. It is expected to enhance the attractiveness of these positions, ensuring that the province’s universities continue to attract and retain qualified and experienced individuals to lead them.

With these changes, the Sindh government aims to standardize compensation, reduce disparities, and ensure that the province’s higher education sector is led by capable and adequately compensated leaders. The increase also reflects broader efforts to improve governance and performance within public universities, ultimately benefiting students, faculty, and the academic community at large.