LAHORE: The Punjab government has constituted a five-member search committee, without including a Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) representative, for appointment of vice chancellor at the Baba Guru Nanak University, Nankana Sahib.

Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) notified the search committee on Tuesday.

The notification available with Dawn states an ex-civil servant, retired Capt Zahid Saeed was made convener of the committee, while other members include academician Zafar Iqbal Qureshi, ex-civil servant Farkhanda Waseem Afzal, academician Muhammad Ahsan Rana and the HED secretary.

The committee was formed for two years and was directed to recommend a panel comprising three candidates for the appointment of one of them as vice chancellor of the varsity.

However, the PHEC was not given representation in the search committee.

According to Higher Education Commission (HEC) rules, HED and PHEC should be given representation as ex-officio members in the search committees for appointment of VCs.

The academic circles say that the formation of the committee could be challenged in the court for lacking PHEC representation.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025