ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The government has asked a special assistant to the prime minister to look after the Higher Education Commission affairs till a new chairperson is appointed, an HEC official told Dawn on Wednesday.

Ms Shehnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sector, will be looking after HEC’s official business till the appointment of a full-time chairperson.

The outgoing chairperson, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, has been officially relived of the charge.

“We received an official confirmation from the prime minister secretariat that Dr Atta’s resignation has been accepted,” the official said.

At present, the HEC is facing a serious financial crisis and finding it difficult to provide money to public sector universities for their development and recurring expenditures.

According to an estimate, the HEC is facing a shortfall of Rs8 billion, affecting more than 250 ongoing and new development projects.