PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is expected to appoint a new vice-chancellor soon of Khyber Medical University (KMU), with the final selection to be made from a panel of three insider candidates recommended after the interview process, according to sources.

The position became vacant after Prof Ziaul Haq was appointed the executive director of Higher Education Commission in November last year. His departure left behind a strong legacy at KMU, where he is widely credited with strengthening academic standards, research output and institutional development.

Many in the medical and academic community believe that matching his performance will be a significant challenge for whoever succeeds him.

Interviews for the position were held in Islamabad last Sunday, with around eight candidates appearing before the selection committee. Following the process, higher education department forwarded a panel of three candidates to Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi for final consideration.

Names of Dr Jalil Khan, Dr Inayat Shah and Dr Yasar Mehmood sent to CM

The shortlisted candidates include Dr Abdul Jalil Khan, Dr Inayat Shah and Dr Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai. All of them are serving in KMU, according to official sources.

They said that the chief minister was expected to carefully evaluate strengths of all the three candidates before making an important decision for a very successful university. Given KMU’s growing role as the province’s leading medical university, stakeholders hope that the appointment process will prioritise a clear vision for the institution’s future.

The university’s next leader will be expected not only to maintain KMU’s recent progress but also to build upon the foundation laid during Prof Ziaul Haq’s tenure.

The appointment comes at a critical time for higher education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The province has spent several years addressing leadership vacancies across public universities, with some earlier selection processes facing legal challenges and requiring fresh rounds of appointments.

Academicians argue that stable and capable leadership is essential for ensuring institutional continuity, improving research productivity and enhancing educational outcomes.

The 2024 amendment to KP Universities Act transferred the role of chancellor from Governor to chief minister, authorising the latter to appoint any one of the three shortlisted candidates. However, sources said that chief minister was likely to appoint the top performer in the interview instead of using his discretion to appoint one of the three whose names were sent to him in the summary.

There is a precedent worth noting. When 19 vice-chancellors were appointed in May 2025, former chief minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had chosen the candidates placed on top of the three shortlisted panels.

He had the legal power to pick anyone but he opted for merit. Medical experts in the province expect the same from the present chief minister as well.

With KMU playing a central role in medical education and research in the province, the key challenge for the incoming vice-chancellor will be sustaining the university’s momentum and meeting the high expectations created during Prof Ziaul Haq’s tenure.

KMU is the only university in KP that generates its own revenues from its 23 sub-campuses where BS courses are taught. As other public sector universities in the province are struggling to fill their seats by enrolling students, it conducts entrance tests to select candidates for BS courses every year.

Recently, it also started KMU Hospital and Research Centre, therefore a vice-chancellor with academic, research and clinical background is needed to maintain its gains.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026