The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has once again appointed Dr Mazhar Saeed as executive director (ED), a position he had held earlier during the tenure of former HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. This decision has raised eyebrows within academic and administrative circles, as a senior officer is currently available within the HEC who could have been considered for the role.
The executive director is not only the administrative head of the commission but also acts as the principal accounting officer, responsible for managing and monitoring billions of rupees of public funds allocated for the development of higher education across Pakistan.
For the financial year 2025-26, the federal government has allocated Rs39.5 billion to the HEC for 170 ongoing and new projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), in addition to a recurring operational budget of about Rs65 billion for universities across the country.
Under the Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002, the executive director holds significant administrative and financial authority, including acting as the principal accounting officer for all HEC funds, ensuring implementation of the commission’s decisions and compliance with government financial rules, overseeing all operational, development, and scholarship programmes, representing the commission in official matters and delegating tasks as per Section 18 of the Ordinance.
HEC sources have alleged that several individuals considered close to the former chairman continue to enjoy important positions and privileges, raising concerns about bias and governance practices.
