Punjab public sector's Universities: process of appointing VCs progresses at a snails's pace

The process of appointments of permanent vice chancellors of universities of Punjab and chairperson Punjab Higher Education Commission has not entered in to the final stage. According to the sources the last date of applying for the post of 12 vice chancellors of public sector universities of Punjab and chairperson PHEC was March 8. Sources said that two weeks has been passed but the process of appointments on these highest administrative posts of higher educational institutes is very slow.
The posts for the appointment of vice chancellors and chairman PHEC have been advertised in national and international media. The post of chairman PHEC was advertised after some minor changes in the criteria.
Sources in the Punjab Higher Education department said that candidates in large number have been applied for these posts. Sources also said that as many as 100 candidates has applied for the job of chairman PHEC while more than 400 candidates applied for the post of 12 vice chancellors of the public sector universities of the Punjab.
Sources in HED Punjab said that reason for delay in the appointment of PHEC chairperson is that chairman of the search committee Dr Ataur Rehman is abroad. The sources claimed that department is striving hard to complete the process of appointment of chairperson PHEC.
The academicians who had applied for chairperson PHEC include vice chancellor Government College University Lahore Dr Syed Hassan Amir Shah, vice chancellor University of Education Lahore Dr Rauf-Azam, vice chancellor university of Veterinary And Animal Science Lahore Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, chairman Pakistan Science Foundation Dr Muhammad Ashraf and professor of education of Institute of Education and Research Punjab University Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry. Sources claimed that VC GCU Lahore Syed Hassan Amir Shah is the potential candidate for the chairperson PHEC. Sources claimed that the process of short listing for the appointment of vice chancellor of women universities has entered in final stage after that call letters for interviews will be sent to short listed candidates.
The candidates for the post of vice chancellors include Federation of All Pakistan Universities Punjab chapter former president and head of Physics department Bahauddin Zakriya University Multan Dr Javed Ahmed who had applied for VC BZU Multan, VC university of Narowal, VC Islamia University Bahawpur and VC Government College University Faisalabad. Incumbent VC of University of Education Lahore Dr Rauf e Azam applied for the post of VC university of Gujarat, VC Government College University Faisalabad and VC BZU. Former professor of department of Physics Punjab University Dr Harris Rasheed is applicant for the VC of University of Narowal.
Founding Vice Chancellor Women University Sialkot Dr Farhat Saleemi is again applicant for Women University Sialkot and her Alma mater Lahore College for Women University.
Sources claimed that Dr Farhat Saleemi is potential candidate for VC LCWU. Incumbent vice chancellor Government Sadiq College for Women University Dr Talat Afza is applicant for the post of vice chancellor Women University Multan.
Punjab Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Hammayun claimed that process of short listing of candidates has been finalized and names of short listed candidates has been sent to search committee.