The federal government is considering a new salary formula for university teachers under the Tenure Track System (TTS), with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal calling for future pay adjustments to be linked to inflation.

Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting in Islamabad on Friday to review salary differences among TTS faculty members and develop a permanent system for fair compensation.

State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, officials from the Finance Ministry, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Planning Commission and university representatives attended the meeting.

The minister said salary differences among professors, associate professors and assistant professors should be addressed through a clear and transparent formula.

He also proposed an independent mechanism for future salary revisions to avoid repeated disputes and government-level discussions over pay adjustments.

Ahsan Iqbal expressed concern over the departure of qualified Pakistani professors to other countries for better employment opportunities. He said competitive salaries were necessary to retain experienced academic professionals and protect the country’s investment in higher education.

He directed the HEC to prepare a detailed framework covering existing salary differences, proposed inflation-based adjustments and the financial cost of the changes.

The minister also called for a forward-looking salary adjustment mechanism linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation.

He warned the HEC against providing incomplete or inaccurate figures, saying the commission would be held responsible if it misrepresented information during the process.

The meeting reviewed proposals to resolve existing salary differences and establish a predictable system for future TTS pay revisions.