Slot vacant for almost a year, while other rules are also flouted. PHOTO: FILE
In contrast to its much-hyped slogan of good governance and meritocracy, the government is flouting rules in appointing head of one of its premier economic research institutes.
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), which was given degree awarding status by former government, has been without a vice-chancellor for almost a year.
Officials at PIDE were reluctant to talk on record and requested not to be named.
However, sources at the institute told The Express Tribune that none of the panelists handling the hiring process for a new vice chancellor (VC) had any expertise in economics, while the process itself was being conducted in the most questionable manner in violation of the PIDE Act in many ways.
The prime purpose behind declaring PIDE a degree-awarding body in 2006 was to lend the Planning Commission (PC) a helping hand in policymaking and economy-related issues.
After the prior to the previous VC’s retirement in December 2012, the appointment process should have been initiated prior to the previous VC’s retirement in December 2012, according to the PIDE Act.
The process involves the constitution of a VC search committee by the PIDE senate — the search committee responsible for handling issues related to the hiring. This would include including advertising the position, reviewing applicants, and finally recommending two candidates to the PIDE patron, the president.
Sources said that the process was initiated in September 2012, three months prior to the retirement of the then-VC, and the search body had completed short-listing and recommended two names to the PIDE chancellor in the last days of the previous government, but according to a research teacher at the institute, it was the bureaucrats who put the file on hold and kept it away from the president’s office.
After the new chairman of the PC and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Dr Ahsan Iqbal assumed charge, the former re-advertised the position, a step that was to be taken by the VC search committee under the act. Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission is serving as the chancellor of PIDE, despite having no mention in the PIDE Ordinance.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Mukhtar Ahmad ruled out any flaw in the process, saying three of the panellists were present during the interviews in person while Lahore University of Management Sciences VC Dr Sohail Naqvi was linked via Skype.
“We thoroughly interviewed each of the six candidates and shortlisted two from them through consensus,” he added.
When asked about the absence of qualified economist during the interview process, he said the panellists did have an understanding of economics and that “no technical questions were being asked anyway”.
As one of the candidates running for the post, acting VC Dr Muslehuddin refused to talk on the issue. Acting Registrar Muhammad Hussain also declined to comment.
Former PC deputy chairperson Dr Nadeemul Haque and Ahsan Iqbal could not be contacted as they are out of country.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2013.
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