CM interviews professors for appointment as VCs

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has started interviews of professors for appointment as vice chancellors (VC) of 25 public sector universities in the province.

According to sources, the interviews of 11 candidates were completed on Monday.

More candidates will appear for interviews for appointment as permanent VCs in the coming days, following which a summary will be sent to the governor office.

The VCs of 25 public sector universities in Punjab will be appointed for four years.

The sources said the secretariat had also called the candidates for the vacant top posts of the universities in other cities to appear for interview with the CM.

The summary of the selected VCs is likely to be issued in the coming week.

On the other hand, candidates appear to be leaving no stone unturned to be selected for the posts. The selection of the VCs has drawn keen interest among the university teachers and in social media.

Interviews for the appointment of VCs of women's universities are still being conducted by the search committee. However, the professors are more keenly awaiting the announcement of the names of the VCs of the big institutions, including the Punjab University, University of Gujrat, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahauddin Zakria University, Government College University Lahore and University of Sargodha.

"Eleven candidates for the posts of VC were called to the secretariat and the CM conducted their brief interviews," said an official. More interviews will be conducted during the ongoing week.

However, it was not clear that the candidate for which universities have been interviewed. The official said renowned professors, including Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Shahid Muneer, Former Quaid-i-Azam University VC Dr Muhammad Ali, PU Dean Dr Muhammad Ali, Professor Zubair Ahmad, Dr Rouf-e-Azam and Dr Naeem Ahmad Khan were among those interviewed on the first day.

Sources in the Punjab Higher Education Commission said Dr Shahid Muneer was contending for appointment as the VC of the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, and Dr Muhammad Ali of the PU.