Federal education ministry yet to publish advertisement for HEC chairperson

Despite three formal meetings and approval of the advertisement draft by the search committee constituted for the selection of the new chairperson of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training has failed to publish the advertisement inviting applications for the post.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the current chairperson of the HEC, is set to complete his extended one-year term on July 29, 2025. He had previously completed two full terms prior to the one-year extension.

On June 17, 2025, the prime minister of Pakistan, being the controlling authority of HEC, approved the formation of an eight-member search committee for the appointment of a new HEC chairperson. Subsequently, one additional member was added to the committee, bringing the total to nine.

The committee is being chaired by Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Since its formation, the committee held three meetings, during which it finalised and approved the contents of the advertisement for initiating the selection process. The members had reportedly agreed that the advertisement should be released without delay to ensure timely appointment of a new regular HEC chairperson.

However, despite this consensus, the ministry has not yet issued the advertisement. The fourth meeting of the search committee is scheduled to take place on July 30, 2025, but concerns have already grown within the higher education community over the apparent delay and lack of clarity in the appointment process.