LAHORE: The Punjab government appointed on Thursday Prof Ayub Sultan Meo as vice-chancellor (VC) of the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) for a four-year term. The chief minister approved his appointment from amongst a panel of three medics, selected by a search committee.

The two other candidates were former acting KEMU VC Prof Dr Asad Aslam Khan and Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Chairman Prof Dr Farid Ahmad Khan.

An official privy to the information told Dawn that a panel each for the KEMU and the Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) posts had been sent to the chief minister for final selection a month ago.

The interviews were held at the same time for both the varsities. The chief minister, however, approved the appointment of the FJMU VC the same day whereas it took him four weeks to decide the KEMU appointment.

The notification issued on Thursday states Prof Meo will remain on probation for four months from the date he assumes the office.The other two competing for the VC office – Prof Asad and Prof Farid - also had vast experience of doing job in the KEMU. Prof Meo had done his entire service in the medical profession in Saudi Arabia.

The official says Prof Ayub did his MBBS from Quaid-i-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur.

He is a resident of Sindh and never did house job in any government hospital in Punjab. He has been a teacher of basic sciences while his two competitors were from clinical sciences.

The KEMU houses six departments of basic sciences and over 40 of clinical sciences.

Sources said the chief executive of a private hospitals chain who also runs a number of public sector hospitals under an agreement with the Punjab government has played a role in Prof Meo’s selection .

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017