Good News For Punjab University Teachers! 7th Pay Commission Brings Salary Hikes

Pakistan – The revised University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales as per the 7th pay commission have brought salary hikes for Punjab University (PU) teachers after 5 years. 

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, announced on Monday that the 7th Pay Commission for lecturers would be implemented in the state. Making the announcement on Teacher’s Day, the CM said that the guest faculty would also get enhanced pay.

Reportedly, the new pay scales for teachers will be implemented from October 1. This will result in a salary hike for around 680 teachers of PU, who have been waiting for a hike in salary since 2018.

As per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, Assistant Professors will get a basic pay of Rs 57,700 which was Rs 21,600 under the 6th Pay Commission. Associate Professors‘ basic pay will increase from Rs 49,200 to Rs 1,31,400. The basic pay of the professors will be increased to Rs 1,44,200 from Rs 53,000.

The president of Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), Mritunjay Kumar, reportedly said, “The announcement has brought relief to the teachers in the state.”

Jagwant Singh, general secretary, Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (PFUCTO), told Hindustan Times that the decision by the state government will pave the way for the implementation of the revised 7th pay commission pay scales in other colleges of Chandigarh as well. 

According to the data compiled by the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), there are 13,200 teachers, who are getting salaries between Rs 6,000 and Rs 11,000, in the state. These teachers are placed in the volunteer category but work full-time.

The teachers’ unions said that the government must do something about it. They reportedly said there’s no fun in celebrating Teacher’s Day without improving the working conditions of these teachers.