PESHAWAR, Oct 4: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has announced to observe Salam Teacher`s Day (October 5) as black day to protest against the government`s failure to implement 50 per cent increase in salaries of university staff in the country.

FAPUASA president Prof. Fida Mohammad Khan said on Monday that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had ordered formation of a committee to resolve the issue of pay and medical allowance increase of university staff.

“The federal government has neither issued a notification nor released funds to the Higher Education Commission in this regard, which has created unrest among the teachers` community,” he said.

Salam Teachers` Day would be observed today as black day. The teachers have decided to observe strike at provincial level, said Dr Khan.

According to a press release of the association, teachers and other staff of the public sector universities would gather at the teacher`s community centre (TCC) in the University of Peshawar and hold a peaceful rally to press for their demands.

“No university employee in public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will work on this day.

Teachers will boycott classes and all the employees of Agricultural University, NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, University of Peshawar and Islamia College University will wear black arm bands,” said the FAPUASA president.

Meanwhile, all the universities of Peshawar observed mourning on the third consecutive day over the murder of Vice Chancellor Islamic University Swat Prof. Dr. Farooq.

Quran Khwani was arranged at Madina Mosque in the University of Peshawar where staff members of the universities offered fateha for the soul of Dr. Farooq.

Meanwhile, teachers and students paid tribute to the services of Dr. Farooq, according to a UoP press release.

The FAPUASA also demanded of the government to provide security to the vice-chancellors, students and other staff and help create a terror-free environment on campuses.