PIFD Senate to convene on July 31

Body to reconsider acting VC appointment

ISLAMABAD:

An important meeting of the Senate of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) was summoned for July 31 to reconsider the appointment of an acting vice chancellor, following clear directives from President Asif Ali Zardari in his capacity as chancellor of the institute.

Sources confirmed that the president sent a reference to the Ministry of Education on April 24, invoking Section 8(6) of the PIFD Act, directing that Agenda Item No 13 of the 17th Senate meeting be reconsidered. The president has explicitly instructed that the responsibilities of acting vice chancellor must be entrusted to a senior faculty member.

The move follows the contentious 17th Senate meeting held on January 5, 2026, in which former vice chancellor Professor Hina Tayyaba Khalil was approved to continue in her role - despite having already completed two full terms. The Senate's Standing Committee on Education has since recommended declaring that meeting null and void.

"Presidency had made it clear that the approval of the agenda had not been obtained," said Bushra Anjum Butt, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education, during a committee session.

Senator Butt had forwarded a reference to the Presidency detailing serious allegations against Professor Khalil from faculty members, officers, and stakeholders. The reference accused the former VC of involvement in mismanagement and misuse of powers, and highlighted a "worst situation of governance" at the institute.