LAHORE: Lack of interest of the Punjab government is evident from the fact that at least 13 public sector universities are functioning without regular vice chancellors (VCs), causing serious administrative as well as academic problems.

While some regular VCs had expressed concerns about setting things right following interim VCs’ actions, which could take years, the Punjab higher education department (PHED) is in no urgency to appoint the remaining regular VCs.

Recently, the PHED appointed a regular VC at Punjab University following a notice taken by the chief justice of Pakistan. Earlier, the department was running the university through provisional VCs for two years.

The public sector universities in the province working without regular VCs included Lahore College for Women University, Women University Multan, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, University of Okara, University of Sahiwal, University of Home Economics Lahore, University of Jhang, Information Technology University (ITU) Lahore, Punjab Tianjin University of Technology, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and University of Narowal.

Out of these, the PHED had constituted search committees only for University of Jhang, Ghazi University, University of Home Economics Lahore, Women University Multan and ITU Lahore.

Meanwhile, VCs of six other public sector universities in Punjab will complete their four-year tenures during the current year. Prof Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi of Government College for Women University Faisalabad and Prof Dr Farhat Saleemi of Government College for Women University Sialkot are set to complete their tenures on Sept 9; and Prof Dr Mohammad Ali of Government College University Faisalabad, Prof Dr Qaiser Mushtaq of Islamia University Bahawalpur, Prof Dr Fazal Ahmed Khalid of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum of University of Gujrat on Dec 16.

The PHED had announced that interviews for the post of VC at University of Okara will be conducted on Monday (today) and Tuesday. A senior official on condition of anonymity told Dawn that the search committee would start interviewing candidates on Monday (today).

He further said 161 candidates had applied for the post and out of them the committee had shortlisted 43 after their particulars were scrutinised by the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC). He said 25 candidates had been called for interview on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.

The search committee for University of Okara comprised Akhuwat Foundation Executive Director Dr Amjad Saqib as the convener, while its members were Punjab Information Technology Board Chairman Dr Umar Saif, Kinnaird College former principal Dr Mira Phailbus, PHEC Chairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin and the PHED secretary.

Earlier, these interviews had been delayed for over a week due to transfer and posting in the Punjab bureaucracy. The department’s secretary, Nabeel Awan, was replaced with Punjab Small Industries managing director Khalid Saleem.

A search committee led by Dr Umar Saif had also interviewed 27 shortlisted candidates for the post of VC at University of Sahiwal and had yet to announce a decision.

PHED Secretary Khalid Saleem told Dawn that he assumed office a week ago and would take measures to appoint the VCs in all public sector universities.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2018