TTS Salary Disparity in Pakistan: Ahsan Iqbal Seeks Fixed Formula and CPI-Linked Raises for University Faculty
Ahsan Iqbal on 13 November 2026 called for a fixed formula to end TTS faculty pay disparities and CPI-linked raises. The July scale gave professors 3% more.
Short answer: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on 13 November 2026 called for a permanent, transparent formula to fix salary disparities among Tenure Track System (TTS) faculty in Pakistan's universities. He wants clear pay gaps between professors, associate professors and assistant professors, and a future link to inflation (CPI). No new pay scale has been approved yet.
The July 2026 TTS revision raised the starting pay of an assistant professor by 64%, but a full professor's by only 3%. After that change, a new professor starts just Rs 36,420 a month above a new associate professor. That narrow gap is what the meeting was about.
Ahsan Iqbal wants a fixed formula for TTS faculty pay
Ahsan Iqbal said TTS salary disparities must be fixed through a clear and objective formula. It should keep proper differences between the pay of professors, associate professors and assistant professors. He also wants an independent mechanism for future raises, so the issue stops returning to the government.
The meeting was held in Islamabad on 13 November. Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Finance Ministry officials, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Planning Commission's member for science and technology and focal persons from universities attended.
The Tenure Track System is a separate pay track for university teachers, run with the HEC, outside the basic pay scales (BPS). Its pay is set by Finance Ministry memorandums, the latest dated 10 July 2026.
The July revision narrowed the gap between professor ranks
The Finance Ministry's office memorandum of 10 July 2026 revised TTS pay from 1 July 2026. Starting pay for an assistant professor rose by Rs 112,520 a month and for an associate professor by Rs 107,560. A full professor's starting pay rose by only Rs 12,355.
| Rank | Old minimum (Rs) | New minimum (Rs) | Rise | New maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | 394,875 | 407,230 | +3.1% | 712,030 |
| Associate Professor | 263,250 | 370,810 | +40.9% | 645,610 |
| Assistant Professor | 175,500 | 288,020 | +64.1% | 553,820 |
Before July, a new professor started Rs 131,625 a month above a new associate professor, about 50% more. Now the gap is Rs 36,420, under 10%. The gap between associate and assistant professor barely changed, from Rs 87,750 to Rs 82,790.
The memorandum says the government ratified a Prime Minister's decision of 20 September 2021 to allow a 35% increase in TTS salary. It also says universities must meet the cost from their own resources, and the federal government takes on no extra liability. All other terms stayed the same. Each scale still has 15 stages.
Future raises could be linked to inflation
The minister asked for a salary adjustment framework with three parts: fixing the existing disparities, an adjustment for past inflation, and a forward-looking mechanism linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It is a proposal at this stage.
He directed that the framework be supported by accurate data and clear financial costs. A CPI link would mean TTS pay rises roughly in line with prices each year, instead of waiting years for a one-time revision like the one in July.
Here is where each part of the plan stands:
- Disparity formula between the three ranks: asked for, not yet drafted publicly.
- Inflation adjustment for past years: asked for, with data and costs.
- CPI-linked mechanism for future raises: asked for, as an independent mechanism.
- Approval: not yet given. The July revision was approved by the federal government.
- Payment: under the July memorandum, universities meet TTS costs from their own budgets.
The minister warned the HEC over incomplete data
Ahsan Iqbal cautioned the HEC against presenting incomplete or inaccurate information. He said that if it emerged the forum had been misled, he would hold the Commission accountable. The HEC's response was not part of the government's statement.
He also said many talented Pakistani professors have left the country for better jobs abroad. In his view, the money spent on training academic talent must be protected through fair pay and a sustainable pay structure. The meeting agreed on the need for a predictable and transparent framework for future revisions.
What TTS faculty should do now
TTS teachers keep the July 2026 scale until a new decision is notified. Nothing from this meeting changes a salary slip this month. Faculty can check their stage under the July table and confirm their university applied it from 1 July 2026.
- Your pay was fixed point to point: you moved to the same stage on the new scale that you held on the old one.
- Each stage adds the new annual increment: Rs 20,320 for professors, Rs 18,320 for associate professors and Rs 17,720 for assistant professors.
- Questions about arrears or late payment go to your own university's finance office, since universities pay TTS costs.
The full July scale, with stage by stage examples, is in our page on TTS salary 2026 for professors. Teachers on basic pay scales can compare with the disparity reduction allowance for federal employees, and those moving into HEC programmes can check the HEC HAT registration dates.
Common questions
Has the TTS salary been increased again in November 2026?
No. The 13 November meeting asked for a new formula. The pay scale in force is still the one from 1 July 2026.
What is the TTS salary of a professor in 2026?
Rs 407,230 to Rs 712,030 a month over 15 stages, with an increment of Rs 20,320, under the Finance Ministry memorandum of 10 July 2026.
What is the TTS salary of an assistant professor in 2026?
Rs 288,020 to Rs 553,820 a month over 15 stages, with an increment of Rs 17,720.
Why is there a TTS salary disparity?
The July 2026 revision raised starting pay by 64% for assistant professors and 41% for associate professors, but by 3% for professors. The gap between a new professor and a new associate professor fell from Rs 131,625 to Rs 36,420.
Will TTS pay be linked to inflation?
The Planning Minister has asked for a CPI-linked mechanism for future raises. It is a proposal and has not been approved.
Who pays TTS salaries?
Universities. The July 2026 memorandum says they must meet the cost from their own resources and the federal government takes no extra liability.
How we verified this
What we checked and where we read it.
We checked these facts on 14 November 2026. The meeting, its attendees and the minister's directions are from the Press Information Department release of 13 November 2026 (PR No. 166) on pid.gov.pk. The pay table, the 2021 decision, the point to point fixation and the cost rule are from the Finance Ministry's office memorandum of 10 July 2026, which we downloaded and read again the same day. The rises, gaps and percentages are our own arithmetic from that table. The memorandum mentions a 35% increase, while the minimum pay rises in its own table range from 3.1% to 64.1% by rank.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
