LAHORE: The Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Multan, is facing an administrative and financial crisis because of the absence of a regular vice chancellor for the last 18 months.

As Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, issued a stay order to stall the VC’s appointment process, the leadership vacuum has been affecting the administrative, academic and financial affairs of the varsity.

The VC’s post at the varsity has been lying vacant since the departure of the former office holder, Prof Dr Asif Ali, in January 2024. Since then, Prof Dr Ishtiaq Rajwana had been serving as acting VC.

However, as per sources, Dr Rajwana’s tenure was marred by controversies, as he faced allegations of administrative overreach, disregard for Syndicate decisions and making unlawful appointments.

Following an inquiry initiated by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Dr Rajwana resigned from the VC post on June 17. Now the university is without even a caretaker VC.

A senior official of the university, on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that due to absence of VC, even the routine operations of the varsity slowed down significantly, with strategic planning stalled and the financial health of the institution is also deteriorating.

He says that the key development projects at the varsity, including those funded by the federal as well as provincial governments, are at risk due to the lack of the executive authority to approve and implement administrative and financial decisions.

Senior faculty members, students, and their parents appealed to the Punjab governor (chancellor) and the chief minister to immediately appoint a permanent VC at the varsity, apprehending that the institution’s decline could become irreversible if the appointment was further delayed.

They also requested the chancellor to assign additional charge of the VC to some one immediately. The interim arrangement, they argue, is essential to ensure continuity of critical academic and financial functions.

Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahu told Dawn that additional charge of the VC post is being given to the vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and the post would be soon advertised to hire a permanent VC.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2025