LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday posted the 17th secretary of the Higher Education Department (HED) in the last three years.

The government relieved HED special secretary Muhammad Naeem Ghaus from the additional charge of the secretary and posted Irum Bukhari. She will be the 17th HED secretary posted in the last three years.

Earlier, Mr Ghaus was given additional charge of the post of secretary when Zulfiqar Ahmad Ghuman was transferred and posted as the Lahore commissioner on Aug 25.

The higher education secretaries who worked for a brief period include Raheel Siddique, Irum Bukhari, Sarah Saeed, Khalid Saleem, Imran Sikandar Baloch, Sarah Aslam, Sajid Zaffar Dall, retired Capt Muhammad Mahmood (just one day), Momin Agha (less than two months) and Shaukat Ali.

A senior official on condition of anonymity told Dawn during the last three years, the department approved several public universities, including University of Chakwal, University of Mianwali, Baba Guru Nanak University, University of Kohsar, University of Layyah and Women University Rawalpindi.

He said the department also started online transfer and posting of the college teachers. He added the government was not focusing on regular postings with tenure security of three years. He said there were several policies that could not be implemented fully due to ad hoc arrangement.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2020