The Fellows of the Pakistan Academy of Science (PAS), Karachi Chapter, expressed their deep concern over sudden and unjustified withdrawal of tax exemption to the university teachers and academicians, and said the government decision would encourage brain drain of the most qualified teachers.
The PAS has recently held a meeting in Karachi University (KU) which was attended by the top scientists of the country including PAS Karachi Chapter Secretary General Prof Dr Bina Siddiqui, ICCBS Director Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Ex Dean Faculty of Sciences, KU, Prof Dr Nusrat Jamil, Prof Dr Rumina Hasan of Aga Khan University and many others.
In the meeting, the PAS members demanded the government to immediately correct the problem before it causes major damage to higher education institutions in Pakistan. They regarded this act as anti-education and counterproductive which, they said, would lead to major brain drain of the most qualified teachers and discourage young generation from opting teaching and research career. The scientists expressed their surprise and dismay as the previous governments despite their weak education policy and equally weak commitment towards higher education kept this the exemption intact.
“However, the present regime in the first budget of its rule proved its shortsightedness. This withdrawal of tax-exemption is a major blow to the higher education sector. Ironically, collections of high taxes from a few thousands university teachers would not help economy of the country.
On the contrary, brain drain of qualified teachers will have a negative impact on national economy,” the PAS fellows said.
Shame on PML(N)
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