DUET vice chancellor getsfour-year extension

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the controlling authority of public-sector universities in the province, has approved a four-year extension in the tenure of another vice-chancellor, allowing Dr Samreen Hussain to continue as vice-chancellor of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) for another four years.

Meanwhile, Sukkur IBA University Vice-Chancellor Dr Asif Sheikh is also likely to receive a four-year extension.

Sources at the Chief Minister's House said that, following the chief minister's approval, the Secretary of Universities and Boards would issue a formal notification extending Dr Samreen Hussain's tenure.

The sources further told The Express Tribune that a summary seeking an extension in the tenure of Sukkur IBA University Vice-Chancellor Dr Asif Sheikh was also pending at the Chief Minister's House. However, instead of approving or rejecting the summary, the chief minister invited Dr Asif Sheikh for a meeting on Tuesday morning.

Although the meeting was brief and largely formal, lasting around two and a half to three minutes, the vice-chancellor was given an opportunity to present his performance and achievements.

This is reportedly the first time that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has personally met a vice-chancellor before considering an extension in his tenure. Generally, the chief minister meets candidates when they are being considered for appointment as vice-chancellors for the first time.

Sources, however, indicated that Dr Asif Sheikh could also receive a four-year extension at any time.

It may be recalled that four-year extensions have already been granted to Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Dr Ikramuddin Aijaz, Aror University Vice-Chancellor Dr Zahid Hussain Khand and Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro University Vice-Chancellor Dr Arbela Bhutto.

Earlier, in August, the tenure of Dr Nusrat Shah, vice-chancellor of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, and daughter of a former Sindh chief minister, was also extended.

The extension granted to Aror University Vice-Chancellor Dr Zahid Khand had earlier drawn attention over allegations of political influence and recommendations.