ISLAMABAD: Even after six years, rules for Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) could not be approved. However, appointment of a permanent vice chancellor (VC) has paved the way to get the approval of the rules and start MPhil and PhD programmes.

The university management has decided to send a request to Chancellor President Dr Arif Alvi to summon a meeting of the senate of the university to discuss issues related to the first ever public sector medical university in the federal capital. It will be the second meeting of the senate in six years.

After a delay of almost two years, the government has finally appointed a permanent VC of the university. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), Prof Tanwir Khaliq has been appointed as the VC of the university.

The seat became vacant after the completion of tenure of Prof Dr Javed Akram on Jan 6, 2018. The acting charge was given to Prof Abid Farooqi who worked till Jan 2019 when the acting charge was given to Prof Iqbal Memon.

New VC says he will request president to call a meeting of university senate to formulate rules

There are a number of institutions, including Federal Medical and Dental College (FMDC), affiliated with the university. Around 8,000 students suffered as the acting VC was not empowered to take any decision to address issues of the affiliated institutions and students. A number of times the students held protests for the appointment of the permanent head of university.

When contacted, Prof Tanwir Khaliq told Dawn that the rules and regulations of the university could not be approved even after six years.

“As a permanent VC sends a request to the chancellor to call a meeting of the university senate, so just one meeting was held during the last six years. I have decided to send a request to the chancellor to call a meeting of the senate,” he said.

“Currently, the university is offering MPhil in the disciplines of pathology and biochemistry. However, we want to start MPhil in around one and half dozen disciplines. Moreover, I am keen to start PhD programme in different disciplines but faculty has to be appointed for it. Such decisions cannot be made without holding a meeting of the university senate,” he said.

He said the university also did not have land to construct its own building.

“The Capital Development Authority has agreed to allocate land for the university near National Institute of Health. Moreover, we want to declare the FMDC as the constituent college of the university so that the university does not face any issue regarding recognition,” he said.

Dr Khaliq claimed that the school of dentistry was ready and hoped that its first batch would start in Jan 2020.

“We also have to establish a directorate of research, innovation and commercialisation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019