Nadeem Mahbub appointed HEC’s new acting chairman

ISLAMABAD: With the incumbent Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed’ s tenure set to expire on July 30, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday appointed Federal Education Secretary Nadeem Mahbub as the new acting chairman of the HEC for three months.

“In pursuance of Section 8 (3) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Ordinance, 2002, the Prime Minister Islamic Republic of Pakistan being Controlling Authority has been pleased to appoint Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training / Member of Higher Education Commission as Acting Chairperson, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad, in addition to his own duties, with immediate effect for a period of three months or till the appointment of a regular Chairperson, whichever is earlier,” said a notification issued by the education ministry.

On June 12, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a search committee, and the education ministry subsequently notified it on June 17.

Federal Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui headed the eight-member search committee. Minister of State Wajiha Qamar, Special Investment Facilitation Council Apex Committee Secretary Jahanzeb Khan, Aga Khan University Provost Dr Anjum Halai, former University of Balochistan Dean Dr Muhammad Nasir Qureshi and the secretary of the education secretary were its members.

In May this year, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) terminated the services of Executive Director Dr Ziaul Qayyum and gave acting charge to HEC Advisor Planning and Development Dr Mazhar Saeed.

A local court later suspended the termination order, and Dr Qayyum attempted to resume charge but was not allowed by the HEC management.

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HEC Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, who has previously served as member and executive director of the commission, was first appointed chairman in 2014 for a four-year term. His initial tenure ended in 2018.

In 2022, he was appointed for a second two-year term, which lapsed in July 2023. The federal government then extended his appointment by one year, until July 30, 2025.

Last year, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed concerns over the performance of higher education institutions.

He urged the prime minister to replace the HEC leadership with a new team “possessing experience and a bold vision” to address challenges in the sector.

Iqbal noted that nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population is below the age of 30, calling it a “youth bulge” that presents both an opportunity and a risk. “On one hand, it offers the potential for a robust workforce that can drive development, provided these young individuals are equipped with quality education, good health and essential skills,” he wrote.