Governor directed to appoint DUHS VC in three days
LAHORE:21July:However, on June 24, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif interviewed all six candidates for vice chancellorship at Punjab University and MNSUET. Academic circles hoped that permanent vice chancellors would be appointment soon after the interviews; however, the government has now revised its position and decided to start the appointment process anew.
When contacted, Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani confirmed that the government was going to re-advertise the post. However, he did not confirm when it would happen. When asked when it was expected, he said that the post would be re-advertised soon.
An official privy to the matter also told The Express Tribune that the move was confirmed and said that the post at both – the Punjab University and the MNSUET – would be re-advertised and applications would be sought once again from candidates for the VC slot. He said, “The re-advertisement is likely after the government finalises new requirements for the vice chancellors.”
The Punjab government had established a 10-member committee to review and revise the criteria for vice chancellors of public sector universities. The committee has finalised its recommendation and are awaiting the approval of the chief minister.
The official said that the post would be re-advertised according to the new criteria for the position of vice chancellors. He said that appointments of vice chancellors at other remaining universities in the province would also be made according to these new rules.
Commenting on the development, Federation of all Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Punjab President Dr Javed Ahmad said that the government should appoint vice chancellors as per the orders of the LHC. He asked why the appointments were made at two of the four universities and why the government was taking a discriminatory stance at the remaining two – the Punjab University and the MNSUET. He said, “The government should make the appointments as per the LHC orders and a uniform policy should be adopted on the matter. An appointment should be made from among the three names recommended by the search committee.”Express turbuni.
