Sindh university VCs will have to apply for second term

The Sindh government has made a policy decision against granting a second term to university vice chancellors (VCs) in the province. In line with the cabinet’s directives, advertisements for the appointment of new VCs, particularly bureaucrats, have been halted.

Reports indicate that the four-year terms of the VCs of the Sindh University, the Tando Jam Agricultural University, the Hyderabad University, the Sakrand University, the NED University and the Dow Medical University are nearing completion in weeks or months.

Summaries recommending extensions or fresh appointments for the VCs, submitted by the chairman of the search committee, were sent to the chief minister, but the CM rejected the summaries for the reappointment of Sindh University VC Dr Siddique Kalhoro and Tando Jam Agricultural University VC Dr Fateh Mari.

Now no VC will be given a second term directly. They will instead need to reapply for the post and seek the approval through the search committee. It has also come to light that advertisements for new VC positions have been halted in accordance with the cabinet’s decision as part of the plan to appoint bureaucrats as VCs. A revised advertisement will soon be issued, easing the PhD requirement to allow bureaucrats to apply as candidates.

Meanwhile, the VC post at the Shaikh Ayaz University, Shikarpur, has been vacant for the past year and a half. Dr Ayesha Essani, ranked third for the position, has not joined despite the lapse of four months since her appointment notification was issued on August 13.

Similarly, permanent VC appointments for the Sufism University in Bhit Shah and the University of Larkano remain pending, even though eligible candidates were shortlisted by the search committee, while the VC post at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law has been vacant for a year and a half.