LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been grappling with a severe administrative and academic crisis as it’s practically non-functional due to the absence of its members for the past 10 months.

The situation, since September 2022, has been causing the delay in vital decisions, leaving the universities across the country in disarray and raising concerns among the academia and students alike.

The HEC, composed of a chairman, ex-officio members and 10 esteemed individuals with the highest academic standing from various corners of Pakistan, has encountered a significant setback due to the absence of nine honorary members. According to sources, these seats have been vacant since September 2022, awaiting appointments through a merit-based process as mandated by the HEC Ordinance of 2002.

Prominent figures in the academia, including Dr Shams Kassim Lakha, former federal minister for education and science and technology; retired Lt-Gen Muhammad Asghar, former rector of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST); Naveed Malik, rector of the Virtual University (VU) and other respected professionals, have retired, leaving their seats unfilled despite a rigorous merit-based selection process.

The current impasse stems from bureaucratic delays and red tape between the chairman of the HEC and the Ministry of Higher Education. Although the member nominations have been finalised and the selection process completed, a crucial notification from the PM’s Office is pending, leaving the HEC in a state of limbo. This delay has occurred at a critical juncture with a few days remaining for the present government and the looming uncertainty of a caretaker government.

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed expressed concerns at the prolonged absence of members and its impact on the commission’s ability to make informed policies and decisions. He revealed that the government was actively considering amending the HEC Ordinance to address this issue and is expected to finalise member nominations shortly.

Prominent individuals such as Prof Dr Farid Ahmed Khan, Dr Rashid Amjad Ch, Javaid Aslam, Zafar Iqbal Qureshi (ZIQ), Prof Dr Amanat Ali Jalbani, Dr Dewan Shabbir, Prof Dr Samreen Hussain and Prof Dr Ehsanullah, have been selected based on merit from diverse regions of Pakistan. However, their appointments remain pending due to the bureaucratic hurdles.

The prolonged absence of the HEC members has led to a state of academic limbo, prompting urgent calls for swift action. Stakeholders and observers have emphasized the need for a speedy resolution to this administrative lag to ensure the continued smooth functioning of higher education institutions across the nation.

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023