Interviews for top HEC slot from November 1

Key member likely to cut short foreign visit to attend meeting

ISLAMABAD:

To fill out the vacancy of Higher Education Commission (HEC)’s executive director – a post which has been lying vacant for a long time – the section board will conduct interviews on November 1 [Wednesday].

Secretary of the Ministry of Education, who is a key member of the selection board, is out of the country but there are reports of his visit being cut short to attend the board meeting.

According to details, the post of HEC executive director has been lying vacant for a very long time. However, last month, the Islamabad High Court removed the acting executive director and issued instructions for the appointment of a permanent ED.

According to sources, the interviews for the appointment of the executive director were scheduled on November 1 and the education secretary will attend the selection board by shortening his scheduled visit of one week.

The sources have said that regarding the selection board, the members objected that since the major amendments in the Higher Education Commission Act have been approved by the parliament and the standing committees, such a major appointment should not be implemented at this moment.

Reliable sources have claimed that a dispute may arise between the commission and the education ministry over a potential candidate.

Even earlier, the education secretary had objected to the board that it was necessary to obtain permission from the ECP regarding any appointment in the supervisory setup. Later, the HEC chairman sought permission from the EPC to conduct the interviews, which was granted.

According to sources, the most favourite candidate for the post of executive director is former vice chancellor Dr Ziaul Qayyum.

During a conversation with The Express Tribune, Education Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry clarified that he would attend the board meeting. “It was our earlier objection that since the president did not sign the Act, the matter would have to be looked into under the old Act until the next assembly was formed. However, it was decided in the commission’s meeting that since the vacancy has been advertised, interviews should be conducted now to find a suitable candidate, otherwise a new selection board should be established by re-advertising,” he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2023.