LAHORE: The Punjab government appointed on Monday Dr Uzma Qureshi and Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed vice chancellors of the Lahore College for Women’s University and the University of Sargodha for four years.

According to a notification, Dr Qureshi’s appointment has been made subject to the final decision on the representation of Dr Rukhsana Kausar. Terms and condition of appointment of Dr Qureshi will be notified separately, the notification says.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could not finalise heads for the Punjab University and the Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology, Multan.

The CM has to choose one among a panel of three shortlisted candidates — Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir, Muhammad Zakaria Zakar and Dr Mujahid Kamran — for the PU. Dr Nasir is the incumbent provisional VC.

For the NS-UET, the search committee has shortlisted Dr Aamir Ijaz, Dr Mohammad Zubair and Dr Shahid Munir.

A senior official of the Punjab government told Dawn that the CM might interview the three candidates for the PU office.

“The chief minister is very much concerned about the law and order situation on the campus and will appoint the new VC who he considers the best to maintain peace in the varsity,” he said, adding the new VC for the NS-UET would also be appointed in a couple of days.

A Lahore High Court division bench on April 27 had directed the provincial government/chancellor to proceed with the appointment of VCs on the basis of recommendations of the search committee.

The Punjab government has yet to form search committees for the appointment of permanent VCs for 11 other public universities.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017