LAHORE: A new challenge is awaits the Punjab and federal government of Pakistan as the appointment of permanent vice chancellors in 10 public sector universities of Punjab have still not been finalised. According to details, the four years’ tenure of University of Engineering & Technology Vice Chancellor Dr Fazal Ahmed Khalid, Gujarat University VC Professor Dr Ziaul Qayyum, Government College University (GCU), Faisalabad VC Dr Muhammad Ali Shah and Islamia University VC Dr Qaiser Mushtaq will complete on December 16, 2018. While the tenure of GCU of Women VC Professor Dr Noreen Aziz Qureshi ended on September 9, the tenure of Government College for Women University, Sialkot VC Dr Farhat Saleemi ended on September 11. According to the Punjab Higher Education Department, the summary for the appointment of second tenure of Information Technology University VC Dr Umar Saif was in the office of provincial Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Humayun and up until now, no decision was taken in this regard. Sources also claimed that the government is considering to change the criteria of the appointment of the VC, that is why the decision of the appointment of ITU VC is pending. Dr Hassan Amir Shah has the charge of VC of Jhang University as well, which was established by the former Punjab government. The process of the appointment of VCs of newly established Murree University and Jhang University has not been started yet. Sources claimed that the process of the appointment of permanent VCs has not been started as yet. The new government has not appointed a permanent Higher Education Punjab secretary in the province. The government has given the additional charge of Higher Education secretary to schools secretary to Grade 20 Officer Imran Sikandar Baloch. While in the federal capital, the position of VC of Allama Iqbal Open University Dr Shahid Siddique will end on October 8, whereas Quaid-e-Azam University VC Dr Javed Ashraf and International Islamic University Islamabad Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai’s terms will also end in October. Sources in Higher Education & Professional Training Ministry while talking exclusively to Daily Times said that the process of appointment of VCs of three public sector universities could not be finalised because of the international engagements of Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood. The high officials of the Federal Higher Education Department, also while talking exclusively to Daily Times said that 300 candidates have submitted applications for the post of VCs of three public sector federal universities. He said that VCs will be appointed in these universities before the completion of the tenure of the present ones. All Pakistan Federation of Universities President Dr Mahboob Hussain said that permanent VCs should be appointed in public sector universities of Punjab. He also said that there should be no role of bureaucracy and non academicians in the search committees. Published in Daily Times, September 30th 2018.