The Sindh government is considering raising the retirement age of public university professors from 60 to 65 years. Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah announced the proposal at a meeting with vice chancellors of 32 public universities in Karachi on Friday, October 16, 2026.
However, the proposal is not yet an approved policy. According to reports published on October 17, the chief secretary said the government would send a summary to the Sindh cabinet for consideration. Therefore, the current retirement age will remain in place until the government approves and implements the change.
Why Sindh Is Considering the Change
Public universities are facing difficulties retaining experienced teachers. During the meeting, vice chancellors said private universities were attracting qualified faculty members with better salary packages. In addition, some universities face faculty shortages as academics move to other countries.
If approved, the proposal would allow eligible professors to work for five more years. However, the government has not announced an implementation date. It has also not clarified which faculty categories would qualify for the extension.
Universities Face Financial Pressure
The Sindh university professors retirement age proposal was discussed alongside wider concerns about university finances. Officials also reviewed the costs of running public-sector institutions.
Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah said the Sindh government was providing Rs44.46 billion in grants to universities during the current financial year. He also highlighted pension liabilities and electricity bills as major expenses.
Meanwhile, he called for measures to control spending. These included discouraging unnecessary recruitment, especially for non-teaching positions. The meeting also discussed solarisation as a way to reduce electricity costs. Officials further stressed the need to improve financial and administrative management.
In addition, officials called for proper feasibility studies before establishing new campuses. They encouraged universities to strengthen research and involve alumni in institutional development. Universities were also urged to build stronger links with industry and international institutions.
What Happens Next?
The next step is to submit the retirement-age proposal to the Sindh cabinet. The cabinet will decide whether to approve the proposed increase from 60 to 65 years.
As of October 17, 2026, the proposal remains under consideration. No final approval or implementation schedule has been announced in the available reports. Therefore, university professors must wait for an official decision before the proposed retirement age change takes effect.
One Response