Much-needed: Gilani takes over HEC reins, though temporarily

Faces several immediate challenges as higher education body was headless for over two months.

ISLAMABAD:

A seat that was vacant since August 27 has finally been filled by Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, vice chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, who assumed charge as the acting chairperson of the Higher Education Commission.

After substantial media pressure and Supreme Court orders, the government was forced to appoint a chief on an ad hoc basis for three months.

HEC Executive Director (ED) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and other senior officials of the commission welcomed the new chairperson, who faces several challenges already.



Gilani, who is also a member of the HEC’s governing body, has previously held senior positions at various national and international institutions. In a career spanning over four decades, he has established a reputation of a firm administrator and a dedicated educationist.

He also worked as the acting ED when HEC employees protested last year over the ‘illegal’ extensions for management scale officers, who include then-ED Sohail Naqvi as well.

Besides, as a vice chancellor, he has been actively involved with HEC, the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Planning Commission of Pakistan with regards to various developments for the higher education sector.

The country’s higher education system faces several challenges, the primary one being dire financial conditions of several universities, including Gomal University and several universities in Sindh. The government has yet to pay Rs2.9 billion to HEC from the previous fiscal year. A Senate body has also expressed dismay over the nonpayment and directed the Finance Division to expedite the release of funds.

Besides, the Sindh Universities Act is another issue which needs attention and several universities need HEC’s help in the province over autonomy and non-politicisation of campuses.

Gilani, as the chairperson of the central executive vice chancellors’ committee, has been actively involved in highlighting financial and policy issues faced by universities.



He also served as the Minister for Education, Information, Sports, Tourism and Archives from 1999-2002 in the interim government set-up in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and as the provincial minister for Information, Public Relations, Science and Technology in the caretaker government in 2007-2008.

He addressed HEC employees on his first day in office and appreciated their role in developing the country’s higher education sector.

He reiterated his commitment to further strengthen higher education by establishing effective coordination with all stakeholders, including various divisions of the federal and provincial governments, vice chancellors, faculty members and said he will vie to strengthen HEC as an institution.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2013.