LAHORE: The Punjab higher education department (HED) on Friday made major, but temporary, changes to the administrative set-up of colleges throughout the province, while a five-member committee will look for full-time directors of colleges in all nine divisions of the province within a month.

According to a notification issued by the department, Mian Muhammad Zahid, assistant professor of English working as the deputy director of Education Colleges (A&E) Lahore, has been transferred and told to report to the department. He has been replaced with Sakhawat Ali, assistant professor of English.

Similarly, Dr Shazia Irfan, assistant professor of zoology posted as deputy director of education (colleges) Sargodha, has been replaced with Sarfraz Ahmad, assistant professor of statistics. Ahtasham Jan Butt, assistant professor of history posted as deputy director of education colleges (B&P) Lahore, has also been transferred.

The department, in the notification, directed all the officers to respectively assume and relinquish their charge and report to the department.

It also made some changes at the divisional level. Zafar Inayat Anjum, who has been working as the director of education (colleges) Lahore division, has been transferred and Sakhawat Ali given the additional charge of the post. Khalil Zubair, director of education (colleges) Gujranwala division, has been replaced with Muhammad Jamil Yousaf, who has been given the additional charge of the post until a permanent posting is made.

CM okays body to look for full-time directors of colleges in all nine divisions

Muhammad Alim, director of education (colleges) Faisalabad division, has been replaced with Imadullah until a regular incumbent is posted. Dildar Haider Khan, director of education (colleges) Sargodha division, has been replaced with Sarfarz Ahmed. Syed Haider Abbas Gardezi, director of education (colleges) Multan division, has been temporarily replaced with Muhammad Khalid.

Muhammad Ibrahim, director of education (colleges) Bahawalpur division, has been replaced with Muhammad Ashfaq. Mazhar Hussain Gishkori, director of education (colleges) DG Khan division, has been temporarily replaced with Muhammad Wasim Khan. Rana Abdul Shakoor, director of education (colleges) Sahiwal division, has been replaced with Shabab Fatima until the appointment of a regular incumbent.

All the officers have been directed by the department to assume and relinquish charge immediately.

Higher Education Secretary Sajid Zafar Dall told Dawn that the transfers were made due to prolonged postings without any performance. He said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved a five-member committee, led by Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz, to hold a selection board and place suitable directors of colleges in all nine divisions of the province within a month.

Other members of the committee included Mr Dall, the Punjab Higher Education Commission chairperson, AS Collegesand director of public instruction (colleges).

He said the interested candidates could submit applications from the next week. Candidates would be assessed on their administrative capabilities on the basis of objective criteria through interviews as well as presentations to the committee on their understanding of the division that they were interested to lead.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020