LAHORE: The Punjab government on Thursday constituted four different search committees to pick vice-chancellors in categories of general, specialised and women universities in the public sector.

The Higher Education Department (HED) had briefed the cabinet two weeks ago that appointment of vice chancellors of public sector universities falling under its administrative purview was required. The caretaker cabinet had earlier de-notified of the previous committee(s).

Panels were proposed for nominations on search committee(s) for general universities (category-I), general universities (category-II), and women universities and specialised universities.

General universities (category-I) includes Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, University of Gujrat, Government College University Faisalabad, University of Punjab, Government College University Lahore, University of Education Lahore, University of Sargodha and Islamia University Bahawalpur.

Official says caretakers are not authorised to do so

The HED constituted a search committee for general universities (category-I) which includes Lahore University of Management Sciences former VC Dr Sohail Naqvi as its convener while its members are educationist Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi, social activist Dr Amjad Saqib, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) chairperson and the HED secretary.

General universities (category-II) includes Baba Guru Nanak University Nankana Sahib, Kohsar University Murree, Emerson University Multan, Thal University Bhakkar, University of Kamalia, University of Layyah, University of Jhang, University of Narowal, University of Okara, University of Sahiwal, Ghazi University DG Khan and University of Mianwali.

The HED constituted a search committee for appointment of VCs in general universities (category-II) which includes educationist Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as convener, former PHEC chairperson Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, social activist Dr Amjad Saqib, PHEC chairperson and HED secretary as members.

Women universities are --Lahore College for Women University, Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi Women University Rawalpindi, Government College Women University Sialkot, Govt College University Faisalabad, University of Home Economics Lahore, Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur and Women University Multan.

Women universities search includes LUMS former VC Dr Sohail Naqvi as convener, National College of Arts (NCA) former principal Sajida Vandal, NCA former principal Salima Hashmi, PHEC chairperson and secretary HED as members.

Specialised Universities list includes University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, MNS University of Engineering and Technology Multan, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan.

The HED constituted a search committee for appointment of VCs in specialised universities which includes educationist Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as convener, Nestle Pakistan Private Limited chairman Syed Yawar Ali, Information Technology University of the Punjab former VC Dr Umar Saif, PHEC chairperson and HED secretary as its members.

A senior HED official on condition of anonymity told Dawn the caretaker government did not have powers to appoint vice chancellors in public sector universities. He said that the matter could be challenged in the court as search committees had been constituted for those universities whose sitting VCs’ tenure was not yet completed.

He said a regular government and chief minister had the power to appoint VCs and this caretaker government was exceeding its limits.

Seven public universities have been working without regular VCs for the last several months, causing administrative and academic problems for the faculty, employees and students.

They include Punjab University, University of Okara, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, University of Layyah, Thal University Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan University DG Khan, and the University of Jhang.

PHEC: A meeting of the vice-chancellors of Punjab universities was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Prof Dr. Shahid Muneer, in which the vice-chancellors of more than 20 universities of Punjab participated.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2023