LAHORE: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Ali Shah on Friday assumed the additional interim charge of the VC office at the Government College University (GCU), Lahore.

The historic institution has been without an interim VC for a month, and a regular one for over a year, resulting in delays in financial and administrative decisions.

The vacancy had fallen vacant after the tenure of Prof Asghar Zaidi ended on Oct 23, 2023, following his four-year service as vice chancellor. Since then, the post had been occupied by interim appointees, starting with (former) pro-vice chancellor Prof Ahmad Adnan, who retired on April 19, 2024. Subsequently, Prof Shazia Bashir, a Dean at the GCU, held the additional charge of the VC office until Oct 21, 2024, before her appointment as Vice Chancellor of Government Women University, Sialkot.

The government had recently appointed regular vice chancellors in 19 universities out of 25 where the VC slots were lying vacant.

However, the appointment of regular VCs was pending in six universities -- the Government College University (GCU), Lahore, Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB), Information Technology University (ITU), Lahore, University of Home Economics (UHE), Lahore, University of Gujrat and University of Narowal.

The delay in the regular appointments against the top varsity slots is further contributing to the uncertainty in these institutions. The situation is also fueling concerns about the management of these universities, already grappling with academic and administrative challenges.

A senior Higher Education Department official, on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the decision of appointing regular VCs in the remaining universities was pending and a summary was sent to the chief minister’s office for starting the process.

He said that the posts of VCs for the UHE, the GCU and the IUB would be re-advertised, while the ITU might get a VC soon.The Higher Education Department (HED) issued a notification of Prof Shah’s appointment, who is serving as VC of the University of the Punjab (PU).

Prof Shah has earned PhD from the University of Wales, UK, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri, USA, having an expertise in Biological Sciences.

His started his career as a lecturer at Murree Lawrence College, and he has since served as vice chancellor at seven universities, including the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, and Government College University, Faisalabad.

Prof Shah has received 19 national awards, such as the Pakistan Academy of Sciences Gold Medal and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

His immediate priorities are expected to include resolving the pending financial and administrative matters and fostering academic excellence at the GCU, Lahore. l

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024