LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to form a new search committee to appoint regular vice chancellors in different universities of the province.

Thirteen public sector universities had been functioning without regular VCs for the last one year, causing administrative as well as academic problems.

The varsities [without regular VCs] are: Lahore College for Women University, Women University, Multan, 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, University of Narowal, Government College for Women University, Faisalabad, Government College for Women University, Sialkot.

Earlier, the Higher Education Department (HED) had constituted search committees for the University of Jhang, University of Home Economics, Lahore, Women University, Multan, and the ITU, Lahore, on the direction of the previous government.

Minister says process will start afresh

The HED had completed scrutiny, interview and other formalities for the ITU and the University of Jhang. The department had shortlisted three names for the post and sent to interim chief minister Hassan Askari Rizvi, who left it for the new government by halting the appointment.

The interim government had also halted the interviews for the VCs of Women University, Multan, and Lahore’s University of Home Economics.

A Punjab Higher Education Department official on condition of anonymity told Dawn that the HED had already sent names of the three shortlisted candidates for posts of University of Jhang and ITU to the chief minister for approval and were waiting for reply.

However, he said it was yet to be decided that whether the government would re-advertise posts of the VCs for these universities or appoint someone from the already shortlisted candidates.

It merits mentioning that the VCs of four other public sector universities will complete their four-year tenure during the current year. Prof Dr Mohammad Ali of the Government College University, Faisalabad, Prof Dr Qaiser Mushtaq of the Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Prof Dr Fazal Ahmed Khalid of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum of the University of Gujrat will complete their tenures on Dec 16.

Punjab Minister for Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz tweeted, “People concerned about vacant VC posts. Plz rest assured we are coming up with a transparent policy (similar to the one in KPK) and will nominate a high profile search committee to appoint the best possible VCs in all those universities by the end of the year.”

Sarfraz told Dawn that the government would not carry recommendations of the previous [search] committee and the new panel would conduct the process again.

The interim government had to halt the process because of the Supreme Court’s intervention.

The previous government had established new universities in the province but failed to appoint its permanent heads. The government had struggled to appoint vice chancellors for almost its full term.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018