Disorganisation continues to mar BBSUL

New VC yet to take charge, even 11 days after issuance of appointment letter

KARACHI:

Over the years, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Lyari (BBSUL) has continued to face mismanagement and disorganisation, particularly in academic and administrative appointments. The latest addition to the pending postings is that of its vice-chancellor (VC).

The newly appointed VC of BBSUL, Prof Fateh Muhammad Mari, is yet to take charge of the post, even 11 days after the issuance of appointment letter, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Prof Mari's appointment letter was issued on September 16, but he will not be taking charge as BBSUL's VC until the end of October.

This was confirmed by Prof Mari, who is currently serving at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and has also been assigned the additional interim charge of HEC acting executive director.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he said he had been busy with a major undertaking at the HEC and would be unable to take charge at BBSUL until the end of next month.

On the other hand, a member of the VC search committee, who asked not to be named, claimed that Prof Mari was not interested in the position. "In his interview, he said he had also applied to Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, which would be his first choice."

In Prof Mari's absence, his predecessor Prof Akhtar Baloch continues to oversee the varsity's routine affairs.

A history of
mismanagement

This is not the first instance of disorganisation at BBSUL. The varsity has been facing similar problems since its establishment in 2011.

BBSUL's senate has not had a meeting for six years, while that of its syndicate has been pending for a year and a half.

The last meeting of the university's senate was held as far back as 2014 and was headed by then VC Dr RA Shah, who was also BBSUL's first VC. A year later, Prof Baloch was assigned the VC's charge. Since then, no senate meeting has been called.

According to sources in BBSUL, the meeting's suspension is primarily a consequence of authorities' disinterest. Requesting anonymity, they elaborated that previously, the Sindh governor used to be the controlling authority. But former governor Dr Ishratul Ibad never took time out for senate meetings and neither did he allow them to be conducted in his absence, they claimed.

Later, the authority was wrested from the governor in favour of the chief minister, but it made little difference.

The sources said that like Dr Ibad, the CM, too, hadn't conducted a senate meeting or allowed any to be held in his absence.

As far as syndicate meetings are concerned, the last one was held in January 2019, ahead of the syndicate's dissolution after most of its members completed their terms.

Consequently, there has been a prolonged delay in appointments and promotions on key academic and non-academic positions at the university and no budget has been approved by the varsity's senate for six years.

Despite being sent for approval at least thrice, the names of prospective syndicate members are yet to be approved by the CM, added varsity sources.

Moreover, postings in BBSUL's selection board also face delays as it partially comprises syndicate members. Besides, the posts of permanent registrar, quality enhancement director, the controller of examinations, among others, have long lain vacant, even though the positions have been advertised and applicants screened.

Additionally, none of BBSUL's seven faculties have a single professor or associate professor. The only professor at the varsity was Prof Baloch, who has completed his term.

Plus, there is no finance director. Initially, an official from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, was selected for the post but he failed to take the charge. Following this, first the Dow University of Health Sciences finance director and then that of Sindh Madressatul Islam University were offered the position. Both declined. Later, the finance director of Sakrand University was assigned the additional charge, but he went on leave right after the notification for the VC's appointment was issued.

Parting words

When approached, Prof Baloch refused to comment on the matter. He, however, regarded the establishment of a pharmacy department at BBSUL his biggest achievement at the varsity.

Plus, he said the number of progammes at BBSUL had risen from six to 29 during his tenure, while the student population went from 300 to 3,000.

 

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, Septe0mber 28^th, 2020.