LAHORE: Six public sector universities of the province have been working without regular vice chancellors for the last six to eight months, resulting in academic and administrative problems.

The University of Okara, Punjab University, University of Layyah, Thal University Bhakkar, Ghazi Khan University Dera Ghazi Khan and University of Jhang were working without regular VCs.

The universities are being run under stopgap arrangements. Prof Dr Shoukat Malik has been given charge in University of Layyah, Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwar in University of Jhang, Prof Dr Sajid Rasheed in University of Okara, Ghazi University Pro-vice chancellor Prof Kamran is holding additional charge of VC, Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar has again got charge of vice chancellor Punjab University and University of Mianwali VC Prof Dr Inyatullah Khan is officiating as VC in Thal University Bhakkar.

Changes to varsities act empowers CM to remove VC before expiry of four-year tenure

In December, the Punjab cabinet has formed a new search committee, led by former federal minister Shafqat Mahmood, with members including former PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Hameed Sheikh, Prof Dr Arif Nazir Butt, chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission and secretary HED.

The Punjab Assembly has also made an amendment to the Public Sector Universities Act of 2022, empowering the chief minister and the cabinet to remove a VC before the expiry of his four-year tenure.

The Act was passed on Dec 23, 2022, providing for appointment and removal of any VC of the public sector universities of the province.

An official of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the stopgap arrangement was creating several administrative and academic problems in the campuses.

He said the [irregular] vice chancellor could not run the university properly and he may surrender to ‘any type of pressure’ from the government and other sections of the society.

He said the matters of the Punjab University were worsening day by day due to making the third stopgap arrangement.

He said the universities were also facing problems of appointment of regular faculty members and the newly-established universities did not have proper faculty to run different programmes.

He said the new universities were also facing shortage of funds and the interim vice chancellors could not take steps to address the financial issues of the university.

He said a political personality was made head of the search committee to interview for the post of vice chancellor and the committee decision may be challenged in the court.

He said non-controversial personalities including people from the private sector, should be included in the search committee to appoint vice chancellors.

Former search committee chairman Dr Khalid Aftab told this reporter that earlier there was ambiguity in the appointment and removal of the VC, but technically the process was made clear after the amendment.

He said he also proposed appointing the highest-scoring person as VC to the governor/chancellor during his tenure as chairman of the search committee, but sometimes the chancellor selected a second or third person. “I also said that the chancellor should give some reason for not appointing a person with the highest score in the selection process.”

He said the universities working without regular VCs were also resulting in poor quality of education and the new search committee should appoint the vice chancellors without any delay.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023