Punjab government finally decides to appoint VCs

CM Secretariat advises advertisement be issued for heads of four varsities

LAHORE:  

The Punjab Government finally decided to appoint regular vice chancellors at four public sector universities of the province. A summary, in this context, has been sent to the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED).

The CM Secretariat also advised the HED to issue an advertisement for the appointments of VCs within two weeks. It added further criteria for the appointment of permanent university heads should be considered a priority.

The secretariat approved four universities for the appointment of regular VCs who will hold the position for four years. These included Homer Economics University in Lahore, Ghazi University in DG Khan, Women University in Multan and the University of Sahiwal.

The posts of regular VC’s at eight public sector varsities had been lying vacant for the last one year. Earlier, the HED dispatched a summary to the CM Secretariat for the appointments; however, the latter only approved four of the institutes. The rest will be decided by the Punjab CM who is the competent authority after the passing of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.



The CM secretariat decided to appoint regular VC’s at public sector universities of the province as academic and administrative matters were being governed by acting heads.

As a result, academic affairs, research activities and development projects at these varsities had suffered. All the while, the Academic Staff Associations (ASA) showed their concern and demanded the appointment of permanent heads.

The posts of regular VC’s have been lying vacant at eight public sector universities including Punjab University (PU) Lahore, University of Okara, University of Jhang, Home Economics University Lahore, University of Sahiwal, Ghazi University of Dera Ghazi Khan, Women University of Multan and Information Technology University(ITU) Lahore.

Punjab HED Secretary Barrister Nabeel A Awan confirmed that the summary for the appointment of regular VC’s at four universities had been received.

“We are not concerned with the remaining universities for which the approval was not given by the CM Secretariat. However, we have started our process for the appointment of permanent VCs at these four universities.



“Earlier, we were engaged in the process and are now sending the summary for the notification of the advertisement to the cabinet committee. After approval, the cabinet committee’s search committee, tasked with the appointment of regular VCs, will be notified. Ultimately, an advertisement for the appointment of regular VC’s will be issued,” said the secretary.

This is the first time a cabinet committee has been established by the CM Secretariat for a transparent process of appointment of VCs at government sector universities. Previously, a single search committee was tasked with this particular responsibility.

Similarly, universities were also authorised to appoint their separate own search committees according to academic disciplines and nature of studies.

Sources at the CM secretariat said the Shehbaz Sharif would soon decide over the fate of Punjab University and the remaining institutes.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2017.