ISLAMABAD: The senate of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) has approved three names for appointment of vice chancellor of this university.

The university senate, which was chaired by President Dr Arif Alvi approved three names and it was decided that now, these name should be forward to President through proper chancel and he would pick one of them for position of VC.

Sources said that the university Senate also raised objections on a selection board meeting, which was held during the tenure of temporary VC Dr Mohammad Ziauddin. Sharing details of three shortlisted names, the sources said that the approved list carried names of top educationists, who had served as VCs of various universities. They are Prof Dr Jehan Bakht, Dr Mohammad Ali and Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari.

Meanwhile, a senate panel on Tuesday passed a bill to make HEC liable to submit its progress report in parliament annually.

Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, which met here at the Parliament House with Senator Irfan Siddiqui in the chair, discussed some bills. The session began with the deliberation of the private member’s bill titled: “The Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” presented by Senator Shahadat Awan during the Senate session on Jan 1. This bill, referred to the committee for consideration and report, seeks to establish parliamentary oversight on the functioning of the HEC through the submission of an annual report to both houses. The Committee unanimously approved the Bill.

Additionally, the Committee gave its approval to the “The International Institute of Technology, Culture, and Health Sciences Bill 2024,” introduced by Senator Fawzia Arshad in the Senate session on 19th February 2024.

As this was the final meeting of the standing committee before dissolution, Chairman Committee, Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed gratitude to committee members, the Secretary Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, and Chairman HEC for their unwavering support over the past three years. Committee members, along with officials from the Ministry and HEC, also commended Senator Siddiqui’s leadership for ensuring the seamless functioning of the committee proceedings.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2024