PU non-teaching staff announce protest over cancellation of Assistant Professor appointments

Lahore: Employees at the University of the Punjab (PU) have announced a protest against the administration’s recent decision to cancel the appointments of non-teaching staff who were serving as assistant professors on an ad-hoc basis.

The employee union has condemned the move, calling it a setback for merit-based advancement within the institution.

The protesting staff claim they fulfilled all the necessary requirements—particularly obtaining high-level qualifications such as PhDs—to be eligible for academic responsibilities. However, the sudden revocation of their teaching appointments on the grounds of being “against the rules” has closed doors to their career progression, they say.

The staff argue that if institutional policies do not allow advancement based on qualifications and merit, it undermines the value of hard work and academic achievement. They have demanded that the Syndicate’s decision dated July 3, 2025, be reviewed, and that non-teaching staff be given equal opportunities for academic growth.

Protesters have indicated that they will stage a symbolic sit-in in front of the university’s main gate if their demands are not met. Meanwhile, the university administration has yet to issue any formal response to the protest call.

It is worth noting that Punjab University recently declared the appointment of non-teaching staff as ad-hoc assistant professors to be in violation of regulations, and announced that these appointments would not be extended.