Nawaz appoints Dr Mukhtar Ahmad as HEC chairperson

Pervez Said appointed as the new Managing Director of House Building Finance Corporation


Web Desk April 15, 2014
Former HEC chief Javaid Laghari’s term had expired on August 26, 2013. PHOTO: HEC.GOV.PK

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday appointed Dr Mukhtar Ahmad as chairperson of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Express News reported.

The notification of this appointment has also been issued.

Former HEC chief Javaid Laghari’s term had expired on August 26, 2013. On November 12, 2013, the government had handpicked University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar (UET) Vice Chancellor Imtiaz Hussain Gilani for the post on acting charge. His tenure ended on February 12, 2014.

The government was under strict instructions from the Islamabad High Court to appoint a permanent head at the earliest.

The prime minister also approved Pervez Said as the new Managing Director of House Building Finance Corporation. Said has served as CEO of Burj Bank, worked in Al-Meezan Bank, Johnson & Johnson and Citibank.

Selection

In January, the government had announced that a six-member panel would determine the right man for this key job.

Three names were dropped for unknown reasons and eventually a three-member committee – headed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, and including State Bank of Pakistan’s former governor Dr Ishrat Hussain and Dr MB Shami – started its work.

The committee, after going through the credentials of the applicants, had initially shortlisted 21 names from among 103 applications. On February 11, Iqbal-led committee chose three names including Ahmad’s. However, all the names were reportedly rejected by the PM, who is the controlling authority.

Today, the prime minister appointed Ahmad as the head of the HEC.

COMMENTS (22)

Farhan | 10 years ago | Reply

Indeed, DR. Atta ur rahman was best candidate for this post followed by DR. Ishrat ul ibad but this is also reality in our country that the head of any institution is not capable the post he/she has been given and nominated. I really do not know his background but would anybody please tell me, the name of his authenticated publications "Authenticated" because he has worked on "University-industry collaboration" and i am doing my dissertation in MBA on same topic "University-industry collaboration" but i have never found his name on any journal articles ? I hope he would promote our HEC and make a transparent system.

S Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

Although, I have a postgraduate degree from a university that enjoys better ranking than USC and UCR. I don't see any harm in appointing a person who has got a doctorate from a lower ranked institute if the degree is complemented with high quality publications in impact factor journals, international experience, teaching excellence, administrative experience, etc. Nevertheless, I am afraid that you won't be able to find any Pakistani who has his or research published in top 10 high impact journals.

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