LAHORE: The Punjab government finally appointed on Wednesday a regular vice chancellor of the Women University Multan (WUM) after 10 months.

According to a Higher Education Department notification, the Governor/Chancellor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, on the recommendations of a search committee, appointed Government College University (GCU) Psychology Department Prof Dr Shahida Batool as VC of the WUM.

Prof Batool,a leading psychologist and scholar, served as chairperson of GCU Psychology department.

She holds a PhD from Punjab University and completed her postdoctoral studies at the University of Sussex, UK. She had 100+ research publications and supervised 17 PhD scholars and 160 MPhil and BS students.

She was awarded the HEC Lifetime Achievement Best Researcher Award and Best University Teacher Award. She was currently serving as additional secretary general of the Pakistan Psychological Association

WUM previous VC Dr Farkhanda Mansoor had resigned from the post, citing persistent pressure and “undue interference” from external authorities as the primary reason for her decision to quit.

In her resignation letter available with Dawn, addressing the HED, Dr Farkhanda stated that such interventions compromised the autonomy of her office and hindered her ability to lead effectively.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026