The University of Peshawar (UoP) once celebrated as the academic heart of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is facing an alarming admissions decline, as rising semester fees and administrative mismanagement drive students toward private institutions and government colleges.
Founded in 1950, the University of Peshawar has long been the province’s most prestigious higher education institution. However, recent financial policies and what many describe as “bureaucratic neglect” have triggered one of the worst enrollment crises in its history.
The administration recently raised semester fees by Rs10,000–15,000, pushing total annual costs from Rs42,000 to Rs62,000. The increase has particularly affected students from low- and middle-income families.
“It is deeply disappointing that the university has increased fees without justification. Education is becoming a privilege for the wealthy,” said student Furqan Khan.
Parents echo similar frustrations. Ahmad Jan, a small shop owner, told The Express Tribune, “Keeping our children in higher education is now a luxury. We are struggling just to keep them enrolled.”
Official figures show several departments running far below required capacity. Under HEC rules, a minimum of 15 students is needed per department, yet some have fewer than ten enrollees:
| Department | Enrolled Students |
| Development Studies | 2 |
| Home Economics | 2 |
| Logistics & Supply Chain | 2 |
| Statistics | 7 |
| Geography | 3 |
| History | 4 |
With 54 departments and 69 academic programs, UoP’s declining enrolment poses a serious threat to departmental sustainability.
President of the Peshawar University Teachers’ Association, Professor Dr. Zakirullah Jan, blamed both financial strain and administrative inefficiency.
“The administration is raising fees and discouraging students through poor public dealing. If admissions were decentralised, results would improve,” he noted.
He revealed that the university once enrolled around 18,000 students, earning nearly Rs3 billion annually figures now expected to fall sharply.
Administration’s Response
In damage control mode, UoP issued a re-admission notice to attract more students. A university spokesperson defended the move, stating:
“Even after the increase, our fees remain lower than many public universities. We are offering maximum facilities to students.”
The Way Forward
Despite the reassurances, education experts warn that without fee rationalisation and improved governance, one of Pakistan’s oldest universities could lose its academic prestige.
“The university cannot survive by shutting its doors on the very students it was built to serve,” Dr. Jan cautioned.