ISLAMABAD: The federal government has yet to fill the post of the executive director, Higher Education Commission (HEC), on a permanent basis.

The executive director is the custodian of the HEC’s financial matters, and is meant to take important decisions regarding the uplift of the country’s higher education sector. The post has been vacant since April 15 last year when Dr Mukhtar Ahmed took over as the HEC chairman.

The member human resource development (HRD) is currently presiding over the office of the executive director.

The HEC, which has an annual budget of over Rs70 billion, has suffered due to various vacant posts in its staff. In addition, it appears that no serious efforts are underway to fill the positions anytime soon.

Key posts such as member operations and planning, member academic, HRD advisers and finance and monitoring have been vacant for several months and are being run on an ad hoc basis.

After a series of meetings, the HEC in May this year presented three names for the executive director post, all of which were rejected by the supreme decision making body: the HEC commission.

The commission objected to the selection criteria and directed the HEC to re-advertise the post.

HEC spokesperson Ayesha Ikram said an executive director would be appointed soon.

“Following the directives from the commission we re-advertised the post. The selection committee has shortlisted candidates who will be invited for an interview in coming days.”

She said the committee would pick three candidates whose credentials would be placed before the commission meeting for a final selection.

HEC officials told Dawn that there should be no delay in the appointment of an executive director.

“I hope, this time around, suitable names will be selected and the commission meeting will be called on time for a final approval,” an official said.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2015

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