The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has taken notice of the objections raised by the Sindh government’s representative regarding the alleged violation of the provincial quota in appointments to key policymaking positions.
The HEC ordered that the remaining vacancies as well as all future advertisements must strictly ensure compliance with the provincial quota and balanced regional representation. According to the minutes of an HEC meeting, which was chaired by HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, the HEC endorsed the recommendations of the HEC Selection Board, approving the promotions of several grade-19 and grade-20 officers, and appointments to a number of key policymaking positions.
The HEC also approved fresh recruitment for certain posts, deferred a few cases and decided to re-advertise one senior position. The minutes state that during the discussion on appointments to BPS-22 policymaking posts, the Sindh government’s representative drew the HEC’s attention to concerns over provincial quota compliance and regional representation.
After deliberations, the HEC directed its administration to ensure that the remaining vacancies and all future recruitment advertisements fully comply with the provincial quota policy and maintain balanced regional representation.
The HEC approved the promotion of Syed Naveed Hussain Shah and Engr Waheed Ahmed to the post of director general (BPS-20) in the general cadre, while the promotion case of Suleman Ahmed was deferred.
For the posts of director (BPS-19), the HEC approved the promotions of Rizwan Shaukat, Afifa Arshad, Waseem Khaliq Dad, Pervez Iqbal, Ayesha Hina Farooq and Humaira Quddus, while the promotion case of Syed Samer Sabtain was deferred.
In the information technology cadre, Engr Javed Ali Memon was promoted to director general (BPS-20), while Waqas Ahmed Khan and Kamran Abid were promoted to IT director (BPS-19). The HEC also approved principal candidates for several contract-based senior positions: Dr Shafiqur Rehman as strategic planning member; Dr Nasir Mahmood Khan as quality assurance member; Dr Syed Habib Ali Bukhari as research, development and innovation member; and Dr Noor Amina Malik as National Academy of Higher Education managing director.
However, the HEC decided to re-advertise the vacant post of academics member (BPS-22) instead of making an appointment. For the National Project on Strengthening Laboratory Facilities, Zeeshan Khan was approved as the principal candidate for the post of project director (PPS-10), and Waqas Masood for information security director (BPS-19).
The HEC also considered HEC Director Suleman Ahmed’s representation for expunging the adverse remarks recorded in his performance evaluation reports during the tenure of then HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. Instead of reaching an immediate decision, the HEC resolved to provide him with an opportunity for a personal hearing during its next meeting before making the final decision.
