KP govt rejects list of VCs’ panels for 19 universities

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has expressed reservations about the list of panels prepared by the caretaker government for the appointment of new vice-chancellors in 19 public sector universities and has decided to review it.

According to official documents, in January 2024, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Department, following the recommendations of the academic search committee, prepared panels consisting of 57 names for the appointment of new vice-chancellors in 19 public sector universities including Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khushal Khan University Karak, Agricultural University D.I. Khan, University of Lakki Marwat, Hazara University Mansehra, University of Engineering & Technology Mardan, Women University Swabi, Swat Engineering University, Agricultural University Swat, Shangla University, Veterinary University Swat, Peshawar University, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, University of Technology Nowshera, Kohat University of Science & Technology, University of Science & Technology Bannu, and University of Engineering & Technology Peshawar, and sent them to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for approval.

However, due to various reasons, no further action was taken on these panels during the caretaker government.

Sources said that after the formation of the new government in the province, the KP Higher Education Department sent reminder letters to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for the appointment of vice-chancellors, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor also sent letters to the new chief minister regarding the matter, but so far the provincial government has not advanced any action regarding the appointments of new vice-chancellors.

Provincial Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi stated that the provincial government has reservations about the panels prepared for the appointment of vice-chancellors by the caretaker government because some members of the academic search committee at that time had resigned after expressing reservations.

Read more: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to amend University Act, 2012

Therefore, he said, the provincial government has decided to review the panels prepared by the KP Higher Education Department for the appointment of new vice-chancellors in 19 public sector universities and the related summary.

According to the provincial minister for higher education, the provincial government has decided to bring amendments to the Universities Act to improve the financial and administrative situation of the universities in the province.

For this purpose, he said, an eight-member committee headed by Dr Shafiqur Rahman has been formed to prepare recommendations and they have been instructed to consult with the vice-chancellors.

Meena Khan Afridi said that after the amendment to the Universities Act, new-vice chancellors will be appointed in the province.

He claimed that there was no administrative crisis in the universities and the pro-vice chancellors were handling all matters in a better manner.