Prof. Dr. Arshad Munir
A large number of public sector universities across Pakistan are operating without a regular head that raise indeed, a question mark on the recruitment process and efficiency of the quarters concerned. APUBTA has approached the Supreme Court, urging it to issue directions to appoint vice-chancellors at public sector universities as per the law and without further delay. In its petition, APUBTA says seats of vice chancellors are lying vacant at 64 institutes across the country with the government content to run these institutions through temporary appointments. The data claimed in the petition showed that of the 34 universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 24 do not have vice chancellors, while 32 out of 50 universities in the Punjab, six in Sindh, and two in Balochistan are without Vice Chancellors. The court under a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isah directed the HEC, federal, and provincial governments to submit their comments regarding public sector universities within their respective jurisdictions, identify the public sector universities where the positions of vice chancellors and other tenured positions are vacant or such positions are held on an acting charge basis, and explain for how long.
The CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif who is becoming famous for making histories after elected as the first woman chief minister of the Punjab province, once again made a history to initiate the process of the appointment of the Vice Chancellors in the universities of the Punjab. She is the first Chief Minister out of four who not only took prompt notice but also gave approval for the VC search Committee immediately after the directions from Supreme Court. I was much impressed by her visit to Maryam Abad Church which was the first ever visit of the CM of Punjab in 131 years as she participated in the Christian festivities on the eve of Easter and distributed grants among 10,000 Christians for the first time in Punjab’s history. Her exemplary efforts in promoting inclusion, diversity, and gender equality would in fact, reshape the socio-cultural landscape of the region. Her series of initiatives like cleanliness initiative, iPads, bus services and motorbikes for students, Solar panels, Women Protection Force etc. are remarkable. All these efforts are an evidence of the devotion of Maryam Nawaz Sharif towards progressive Punjab and she is of course receiving praise from various sectors of society for such dedication.
Coming to my main point, I am happy to say that the search committees for the appointment of vice chancellors in 30 universities of the province has been constituted. Ismail Qureshi, Zafar Iqbal Qureshi and Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has been entrusted as the head of the committees by the cabinet for major general, new general and for women’s universities category universities. Other members include Lt Gen Muhammad Asghar, Farukhanda Wasim Afzal, Amjad Saqib, Ijaz Munir, Prof Nizam ud Din, retired Captain Zahid Saeed, Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, and Dr Rukhsana David. The Secretary Higher Education Department is made a member and secretary as well of all the search committees. The cabinet also altered the score criteria for appointment from 75 to 80 points for short listing. The Committees are no doubt, consist of the eminent and notable personalities of high repute with diverse experience and exposure and we are hopeful that the Committees would select the best candidates and right persons with zero facilitation of outside interference. However, it would have been more productive if Dr. Amjad Saqib and Dr. Talat Pasha was nominated in all committees as both have the excellent repute with relevant as well as diverse experience and exposure in educational and social sector. Both personalities have devoted all their efforts towards working for public welfare, social and educational development. A member from higher education commission of Pakistan especially when Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayum as an executive director is there in HEC, would have been more fruitful regarding the selection of the best and suitable candidates. The experience, services and contributions of Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayum for tertiary education are unspeakable and indescribable which must be utilised for better and prosper Pakistan.
We are hopeful that the selection process for VC’s appointment would be finalised as soon as possible under the enthusiastic and astute patronage of the Chief Minister madam Maryam Nawaz Sharif. However, she has, after all, to be ready to bear all kinds of pressure and interference that usually comes at the time of such selection.
µThe author is a professor of Islamic Studies at Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan.
