ISLAMABAD: The appointment of a regular chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) continues to face inordinate delay, as the second tenure of the acting chairman expired on Thursday.

The post of chairman HEC has remained vacant since July 2025. In the absence of a regular incumbent, Secretary Education Nadeem Mahbub has been holding the additional charge as acting chairman. He was initially given a three-month tenure, which was later extended for another three months. The extended tenure also expired on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is sitting on the summary for the regular appointment amid conflicting reports. Some reports claim that the prime minister has rejected the summary carrying three shortlisted names, while others maintain that no such decision has been taken.

However, it is clear that the PMO has not made anything public even after the expiry of the second tenure of the acting chairman. Sources said the Ministry of Education is now finalising a fresh summary to place the matter before the prime minister.

According to sources, the ministry will request the PMO either to decide the fate of the existing summary or grant an extension to the tenure of the acting chairman.

“Frankly speaking, we are still confused. We have no idea whether the summary has been rejected or not. The matter should have been decided before the expiry of the second tenure of the acting chairman, but the government seems unmoved. It appears there is something fishy,” said an officer of the Ministry of Education.

The officer said that while the prime minister, as the competent authority, has the power to reject the summary, “we fail to understand why the PM would reject a summary of three names finalised by a search committee formed by the PM himself.” He added that the situation would become clearer in the coming days, as the government would have to decide either to appoint a regular chairman or extend the tenure of the acting chairman.

It is relevant to note that more than 700 candidates applied for the post. After completing various stages, the search committee conducted interviews and shortlisted three candidates.

Their names were sent to the PMO last month for final selection. However, the decision has not been made public so far, and the delay is causing unrest among stakeholders, particularly universities. The three shortlisted candidates are former Vice Chancellor NED University Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Vice Chancellor University of Punjab Dr Muhammad Ali.

It is also pertinent to mention that after public sector universities, the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) has also expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the appointment of the HEC chairman.

Recently, the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), an elected body representing teachers of public sector universities, also demanded early appointment of the HEC chairman.

Meanwhile, APSUP last week wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to ensure the timely appointment of a regular chairperson of HEC.

In the letter addressed to the prime minister, APSUP Chairman Prof Dr Ch Abdul Rehman expressed serious concern over the prolonged absence of a permanent head at HEC, warning that the continued vacancy is adversely affecting strategic decision-making, long-term planning, and effective coordination across Pakistan’s higher education sector.

The letter stated that HEC plays a critical role in policy formulation, quality assurance, research promotion, international collaboration, and governance of higher education institutions across the country. APSUP emphasised that the absence of a regular chairperson has begun to negatively impact institutional stability and stakeholder confidence.

According to the letter, the nine-member search committee constituted by the prime minister has already completed the selection process in a transparent and merit-based manner, and a panel of three shortlisted candidates has been forwarded to the PMO for final consideration and approval.

APSUP further highlighted that under the provisions of the HEC Ordinance, the appointment of a regular chairperson is required to be finalised within three months. However, the statutory timeframe has lapsed, resulting in what the association described as an avoidable administrative vacuum at a critical national institution.

“On behalf of private sector universities, APSUP urged the prime minister to kindly intervene and expedite the approval and appointment process at the earliest,” the letter read.

The association stressed that timely appointment would help restore institutional stability, ensure compliance with the law, and reinforce confidence among all stakeholders in the higher education sector.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026