LAHORE, July 10: The Lahore College for Women University Syndicate has appointed Muneeza Hashmi to the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair for Peace, Reconciliation and Development for a period of one year.

The university appointed Ms Hashmi to the chair after no candidate having PhD in the relevant field applied even though the university had advertised the post four times, says Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sabiha Mansoor.

The university has tasked Ms Hashmi with strengthening and facilitating university’s links with national and international organisations. She will work closely with varsity’s mass communication department to develop curriculum and research opportunities. The vice-chancellor says she is pleased to have Ms Hashmi in the new role and adds: “Ms Hashmi brings with her years of dedicated services for development of women and is a strong advocate for rights of marginalised segments of society”.

Prof Sabiha said Ms Hashmi’s expertise made her “an ideal chair to galvanise the energy around her in the Women Institute of Leadership and Learning through strategic planning, to promote peace and development that will have far-reaching impact at national and international levels”.

Answering a question regarding chair’s mandatory PhD academic qualification, the vice-chancellor said this chair was given by prime minister and it was not Higher Education Commission’s or professorship chair.

About Syndicate’s previous refusal to appoint Ms Hashmi, the VC said the Syndicate did not refuse, but had asked to advertise the post for forth time. “Even after fourth advertisement, no suitable candidate applied and the next Syndicate meeting approved Ms Hashmi’s appointment. The university will re-advertise the post next year and seek applications from suitable candidates,” the VC said. — Staff Reporter