CM directs officials to fill vacant positions of VCs

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah has directed the authorities concerned to complete the composition of the search committee to fill the vacant posts of vice-chancellors in public sector universities of the province.

A handout said that he was presiding over a meeting about reforms in the higher education sector at the Chief Minister’s House. Caretaker Provincial Minister for Higher Education Dr Qasim Jan, caretaker Minister for Science and Technology Dr Najeebullah and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

KP Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Secretary higher education Arshad Khan and higher education expert Anwar Gillani attended the meeting via a video link.

The chief minister underlined the need for considering the administrative skills of candidates on merit and other legal requirements for the appointment of vice-chancellors. He added that it was imperative to improve the management and governance of universities to have an all time solution to the administrative issues as well as financial crunches being faced by universities in the province.

The chief minister emphasized the need to promote research activities in line with international standards and market requirements. He directed the quarters concerned to determine the research priorities for this purpose. He directed them to review the financial problems faced by universities across the province and come up with a realistic report.

“We have to take concrete steps to make our higher educational institutions sustainable and self-reliant,” he remarked. He added that the government would develop proper financial plans for this purpose. He stressed the need to address all the factors causing financial crunches for these universities on an urgent basis.

The chief minister said that the future of the young generation depended on the quality of education and research. “We need to streamline our higher educational institutions keeping in mind the requirements of the modern age,” he added.