ISLAMABA D Like other parts of the country, the universities of the Federal Capital observed black day on Wednesday on the call of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) to protest against budgetary cuts imposed on Higher Education Commission in the new financial year. The teaching faculty of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) observed black day and boycotted the classes from 12.00am to 4:00 pm. The protesting banners were displayed in support of FAPUASA call for black day against budgetary cut on universities. The academicians showed strong resentment on budgetary cuts of universities. Vice President, Academic Staff Association of the university Dr Shabbir Ahmad said this would be a brutal murder of the higher education. Another faculty member said the scope and field of higher education was at peak in last 8 years but after the budget cut it would decline. President ASA, Dr Iqbal Shah (FAPUASA, Vice President) said that he HEC model was now taken by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development but in Pakistan the government was closing the gates of higher education. ASA General Secretary of AIOU Prof Zahid Majeed said if the HEC has no budget then it might stop TTS programme. There are many projects in progress in different universities of Pakistan, which will be closed due to the budgetary cuts, therefore, the Federal Government must increase the budget of education up to 5 percent over all and for higher education, it should allocate at least 60 percent of the total 5 percent. Academic Staff Association of Quaid-i-Azam University also observed strike on the occasion of black day to protest against the cuts in the higher education budget. The faculty members wore black armbands and held corner meetings, in which they expressed their anguish and dismay over the apathy of the authorities, which always gave step-motherly treatment to the education. Dr Eatzaz Ahmad, President, and Dr Gulraiz Akhter, Secretary, ASA, said that at least 5 percent of GDP must be allocated for education. They said spending on education is investment for future while in this Islamic Republic, the development allocation within education budget faces the maximum cuts. The faculty members urged the Federal and all Provincial Governments to enhance allocation for education if they want Pakistan to develop the country. They expressed full confidence in FAPUASA and vowed to fully support it in its efforts for improvement of education standards and amelioration in the conditions of faculty members. In this regard public sector universities also observed the day displaying banners and hoisting black flags at campuses in support of FAPUASA demands.