Power struggle intensifies in HEC

Chairman, ED rift sparks probe into alleged misconduct in PM's Laptop Scheme

ISLAMABAD:

Sources in the Ministry of Education have revealed that the performance evaluation of the Executive Director (ED) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) appears to be influenced by personal bias and arbitrary actions.

After the formation of an inquiry committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding delays in the award of the laptop scheme contract, the issuance of three explanation notices to the Executive Director is being considered a violation of standard procedures.

According to details, a 'cold war' is ongoing between the Chairman and the Executive Director of the HEC over the delay in awarding the Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme contract. The ED officially recorded that a re-tender should be conducted to ensure transparency in the tendering process. In response to the delay, the Prime Minister constituted a high-level inquiry committee. Both the Chairman and the Executive Director appeared before the committee to present their positions.

Talking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, sources from the Ministry stated that the tender file remained with the ED, who was also the head of the steering committee, for 10 to 11 days. However, other delays occurred at the lower staff level, including with the IT member and other officials. Despite this, the Chairman began issuing explanation notices to the ED based on his dissenting note.

In an unusual move, a performance evaluation committee meeting for the ED was convened, although under the MP Scale Policy, such an evaluation should only occur after one full year — scheduled for November 2024 in this case. The Ministry further disclosed that no Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were defined to evaluate the ED's performance. In November 2024, the Director General of HRM emailed the ED for performance evaluation, to which the ED's office responded in writing, requesting the approved KPIs. The HR department sent a draft, but the ED insisted on receiving officially approved KPIs. In February, the ED submitted a self-evaluation report to the DG HRM.

Despite a two-month delay, a committee meeting was finally held on April 28. During the meeting, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education asked the HEC Chairman to provide evidence supporting the allegations. On the same day, ED Dr Zia informed HEC Commission members via email about the actions being taken by the Chairman's office. Three members responded to the communication.

Sources also claim that the HEC Chairman has privately expressed to friends that he is determined to remove the Executive Director from his position. Meanwhile, the report from the committee formed by the Prime Minister is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister later this week.