HEC executive director removed for unsatisfactory performance

The executive director of the Federal Higher Education Commission, Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum, has been removed for unsatisfactory performance, and Advisor on Planning and Development Mazhar Saeed has been appointed as the acting executive director in his place.

Mazhar Saeed is primarily posted as DG in the commission and also has the additional charge of advisor on planning and development. The approval to remove Dr Zia-ul-Qayyum was given in the commission meeting of the Higher Education Commission on Wednesday, which was chaired by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.

The meeting lasted for an hour, during which the performance report of the executive director was shown on a power point, after which he was removed for unsatisfactory performance.

Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum was appointed ED in 2023 for a period of 4 years, while the current chairman, Dr. Mukhtar, whose one-year extended term is ending on July 28, has been a part of the HEC for a long time. Before becoming the chairman, he had also served as ED.

According to sources, Chairman Dr. Mukhtar says that the ED vacancy will also be advertised within a month. It should be remembered that both Dr. Mukhtar and Dr Zia-ul-Qayyum had problems with each other on several administrative matters and had differences over two projects funded by foreign aid worth billions, including the purchase of one hundred thousand laptops worth Rs12 billion.