PhD holders demand jobs promised by PTI
Unemployed graduates urge government to provide jobs in line with qualifications
Agroup of PhD holders staged a protest in Pakistan’s capital yesterday, which turned into a sit-in at a check-post leading to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence.
The scholars were demanding fulfilment of promises made to them last month by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Naeemul Haq, when they had staged a similar protest.
The demonstrators held placards and banners outlining demands for jobs.
They also called on the Pak-istan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to accommodate them in non-teaching roles. The group tried to head towards the PM’s residence but were stopped at the Imran Khan Chowk.
These top degree holders in Pakistan, totalling 896, are seeking respectable positions and regular jobs in the public sector institutes/organisations.
Indefinite sit-in
They say currently their services are sought only on daily-wage or temporary basis. President of the PhD Doctors Association, Dr Sher Afzal, while talking to Gulf News yesterday said initially they had planned a peaceful demonstration but seeing the government’s rigid stance now they have decided to stage a sit-in there for indefinite period.
“On October 8, we were called by Naeemul Haq and he had assured he would convey our grievances to Prime Minister Imran Khan and arrange a meeting with him but unfortunately, he did not come up to his promise,” Afzal said.
According to the protesters more than 800 PhD holders are currently unemployed in the country and since they have passed the government age limit of 28-30 years prospects are bleak for them to get jobs.
“The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is of no use,” Afzal said. “If our demands are not met we shall continue to sit here at the chowk for indefinite period,” he added. According to a paper issued by PhD Doctors Association, there are 36,000 PhDs required in universities, with a further 60,000 PhDs required across Pakistan.
However, despite this shortage, the government has provided jobs to only a few hundred (about 700) PhD graduates. Th HEC has failed to create opportunities for them, protesters said.
As per HEC rules, the minimum criteria for establishing a department in a university is having at least 5 PhD faculty members, but NOCs have been issued to many universities that don’t fulfil that criterion.