Four public sector universities operating without permanent vice chancellors for extended periods show non-serious attitude of concerned quarters, leading to concerns over academic and administrative stability.
The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari has been without a permanent vice chancellor for two years. Dr Akhtar Baloch, the previous vice chancellor, faced forced leave, resulting in a prolonged state of uncertainty at the university.
Similarly, the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law has been without a permanent head since the past year. Despite the appointment of two acting vice chancellors, the institution has yet to make a permanent appointment. The search committee, despite raising the age limit for the position to 62 years, has not found a suitable candidate and also not re-advertised the post.
Established in August 2023, the Larkana University is another institution grappling with leadership challenges. As a permanent vice chancellor was not appointed, Dr Zahid Khand initially served as the acting vice chancellor, followed by Prof Usman Keerio.
Dr Tariq Rafi led a search committee that shortlisted three candidates for the permanent VC, including Dr Zahid Hussain Abro from the Quaid-e-Awam University Nawabshah, Dr Madad Ali Shah from Sukkur IBA, and Dr Rafiq Chandio from the University of Sindh. However, only two candidates received intelligence clearance. Of them, Dr Shah assumed the vice chancellor position at the Nawabshah university. The Sindh chief minister has so far not interviewed Dr Abro.
The University of Sufism and Modern Sciences in Bhit Shah has also been without a vice chancellor for the last four months. After Dr Parveen Munshi completed her second term, a search committee identified three candidates, Dr Arshad Saleem, Dr Madad Ali Shah and Dr Imamuddin Khoso. However, Dr Saleem was unable to secure intelligence clearance, and Dr Shah's appointment elsewhere left Dr Khoso as the sole remaining candidate. However, the chief minister did not summon him for an interview.
The ongoing absence of permanent leadership in these institutions raises critical concerns about the future of higher education in Sindh.
Minister of Boards and Universities Muhammad Ali Malkani said that five vice-chancellors have been appointed in Sindh and the rest will be appointed soon, however, the approval for increasing the age of the vice-chancellor to 65 years and removing the domicile requirement will be taken from the provincial cabinet.
Secretary Boards and Universities Abbas Baloch said that the candidates for the post of VC of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari have been shortlisted while the interviews of the candidates will be held next week. At the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed University of Law, three candidates could not be found for the permanent vice-chancellor due to the age limit being 62 years, he said, adding that now the age limit for the vice-chancellor was being increased from 62 to 65 so that good candidates could be found.
