RAWALPINDI: In a clear violation of law, both of the public sector agriculture universities of Punjab are being run without a pro vice chancellor (pro VC), Dawn has learnt.

In 2012, Punjab Assembly had passed a law, binding chancellor of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and University of Agriculture Faisalabad to appoint Pro Vice Chancellors, however, so far no practical step has been taken in this regard.

According to Punjab Agriculture Universities (amendment) Act 2012, for smooth functioning of the universities and for better governance, the chancellor is supposed to nominate the pro vice chancellors.

“The chancellor shall nominate the pro vice chancellors of the university, from amongst the three senior-most professors of the university, for a term of three years,” reads the Punjab Agriculture Universities Act 2012.

However, the incumbent Governor Punjab Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar and his predecessor didn’t take any steps to appoint the pro vice chancellors in said universities. Punjab has two agriculture universities that include the Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Whereas, the newly constructed Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agriculture university Multan, is about to start functioning.

Talking to Dawn, senior professors of the arid agriculture universities of Faisalabad and Rawalpindi said that without the appointment of pro VCs, the VCs could not produce the desired results.“Due to the burden of work and external engagements, the VCs can not focus properly on the issue of governance. If the government wants to get the desired results, it has to appoint Pro VCs as envisaged in the 2012 act, passed by the provincial assembly,” said a lecturer of the Arid University Rawalpindi, who wished not to be named.

Talking to Dawn, VC of the Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Professor Dr Rai Niaz Ahmed questioned why the agriculture universities were being asked to appoint pro VCs, only.

When asked whether he is against the University Act 2012, passed by provincial assembly, he said, “I’m not against the act, but I wish to see pro VCs in all public sector universities not only in the agriculture universities.”

When contacted, chairman HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, said that he would contact the authorities concerned for the appointment of pro VCs.

The newly appointed chairman of HEC further said that not only in the agriculture universities, rather the HEC will also play its due role in appointing the pro VCs in all public sector universities.

“Recently, President Mamnoon Hussain also showed his desire for appointing pro VCs in all the pubic sector universities,” he added.