UET acting VC assumes charge

PESHAWAR: The 10 month long wait finally ended with the appointment of Dr Noor Muhammad as pro-vice-chancellor of University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar, who took charge as acting vice-chancellor of the university on Monday.

The UET has been functioning without a regular vice-chancellor for the last more than one year after the retirement of Imtiaz Hussain Gilani. The government had given the acting charge to Dr Iftikhar Hussain in January 2016.

However, after the amendment to the UniversitiesAct, the government was bound to appoint a pro-vice-chancellor for every university, who would serve as acting vice-chancellor in the absence of the vice-chancellor.

A summary was moved in May 2016 recommending the name of dean faculty of engineering Dr Noor Mohammad for the position. However, it the authorities took nearly 10 months to notify the appointment of the pro-vice-chancellor.

Dr Noor Mohammad is a senior faculty member of the university. He has been serving as dean since February 2015. Hailing Takht Bhai town, Dr Noor Muhammad received his early education from a primary school in his village.

He joined the UET as lecturer in 1987. In 1992, he moved to Canada to do master's from McGill University Canada under Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship.

He returned to UET in 1994 after completion of his masters. He did PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK in 1998, on 'computer simulation of underground mining'. Dr Noor Muhammad was made assistant professor in 1992. He was elevated as associate professor in 1997 and he became professor in 2006. He served as chairman department of mining engineering for five years.