Punjab appoints VCs of seven public sector universities

LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Department on Monday notified the appointments of vice-chancellors (VCs) of seven public sector universities, including Punjab University.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali has been appointed as the VC of Punjab University for four years. Interestingly, Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir, who was serving as chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), has been appointed as the VC of the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore by the Punjab government. On the same day, the federal government also issued his appointment orders as Rector of COMSATS University Islamabad for five years.

In a conversation with The News, Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir said that he will be joining UET Lahore. He mentioned that relocating to Islamabad would require moving his family, and therefore, he has respectfully chosen UET Lahore over COMSATS Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Aqif Anwar Ch has been appointed as VC of the University of Education Lahore, Engr. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shuja as VC of the University of Gujrat, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Inayatullah Khan as VC of UET Taxila, Prof. Dr. Amir Azam Khan as VC of Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT) in Rahim Yar Khan, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zubair Iqbal as VC of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan. It is also noteworthy that Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali assumed office as the VC of Punjab University on Monday. According to a press release, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Wales, UK, and has 35 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience. He was appointed vice-chancellor of QAU, Islamabad, from 2018 to 2022 in recognition of his outstanding work at GCUF and the University of Jhang, where he mobilised younger faculty members, inspired students, built the campus, promoted innovation and commercialisation, and enhanced the institution’s standards by building bridges with the business community.

During his academic career, he has served in various roles at BZU, including registrar, resident officer, director of ORIC, chairman of the transport committee, chairman of sports, director of biotechnology, and chairman of the research and planning group. He was awarded the title of Best University Teacher by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in 2002, 2005, and 2011, in recognition of his excellence in teaching and research. He has supervised 100 M.Phil. and 35 PhD students.