Eight VC posts to be advertised in four weeks

LAHORE : Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) will advertise the vacant posts of vice-chancellors (VCs) of four universities in three weeks while the remaining four posts of VCs, including Punjab University, will be advertised in four weeks time.

During the proceeding of a suo motu of law education here on Saturday, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had expressed annoyance over non-appointment of regular VCs in eight public sector universities of Punjab.

After the proceedings, the HED Punjab submitted this information to the advocate general of Punjab. According to a letter addressed to the advocate general of Punjab, a copy of which is available with The News, the advertisement for the posts of VCs of University of Home Economics, University of Sahiwal, University of Jhang and Women University, Multan, will be approximately published in three weeks time as all the process was complete except the approval of the Cabinet. The HED has already issued a qualification criteria for candidates of VC slots and the mechanism for Search Committees for these universities. Besides, the approval by the governor and the chief minister has already been granted. The Standing Committee of Cabinet on Legislative Business has also granted its approval.

In case of Punjab University, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan and University of Okara, the approval of the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Legislative Business and approval of Cabinet was still being awaited owing to which the advertisement will approximately be published in four weeks time as rest of the process was complete.

About the Information Technology University (ITU), the HED documents say approval of the Cabinet was not required as according to the Act of the University, the authority to constitute Search Committee for ITU vested with the governor/chancellor.

An HED official, seeking anonymity, said the department had already moved a summary to the chief minister for the constitution of Search Committee for ITU and once it was approved the case would be forwarded to the governor for approval, he added. He said the post of ITU VC would be advertised immediately after the approval of the governor. He added the advertisement for ITU would likely be published in four weeks time.