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Friday February 28, 2025

VC appointment process improved as per cabinet’s decision: Sharjeel

By Salis bin Perwaiz
January 28, 2025
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon addresses media persons during a press conference in Karachi on January 27, 2025. — PPI
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon addresses media persons during a press conference in Karachi on January 27, 2025. — PPI 

The process for appointing university vice chancellors has been improved in accordance with the Sindh cabinet’s decision, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said while speaking at a press conference at the Social Media Directorate on Monday.

Memon said the new approach allows not only teachers but also professors, retired professionals and experts in the relevant field to be considered as candidates for the VC position. Under the existing system, any professor is eligible to be appointed VC, he added.

He said the law enabling the appointment of professors as VCs was also introduced by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). While professors can still be appointed as VCs, the criteria have now been broadened to include more options, he added.

He highlighted that Sindh University’s former VCs Allama II Qazi, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui and Nisar Siddiqui, and Mehran University’s ex-VC Muzaffar Shah were bureaucrats.

He also noted that the number of universities in Sindh has increased from eight to 30, and questioned the course of action if the pool of applicants remains limited. He said that under the new procedure, the age limit for applicants is set at 62 years, and possessing a PhD in the relevant field is mandatory. He urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the government.

He remarked that a day earlier a business representative made certain remarks in the presence of a federal minister. “I would like to clarify that Punjab is also our province, and motorways are being developed there.”

However, he pointed out that federal governments have predominantly been led by parties from Punjab, and their focus has largely been on developing motorways in that province.

Meanwhile, he lamented, Sindh has experienced significant neglect in terms of effective motorway infrastructure, “a concern we have consistently raised. We have documented the disparities in federal projects allocated to Sindh and other provinces”.

“If we are to compare the performance of chief ministers, we should consider their contributions to different mega projects. For instance, in the energy sector the Thar coal project stands out as a significant achievement for Sindh.”

He said the project was initiated by the PPP government but was halted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. In 2008, when President Asif Ali Zardari’s government returned to power, the Thar coal project was revived, he added.

“Today Thar coal is recognised as the cheapest coal in the country, producing the most affordable electricity. Experts agree that Thar coal has the potential to generate electricity at the lowest cost nationwide.”

He highlighted that Sindh leads in the health sector, citing unique models such as the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, the National Institute of Child Health and the CyberKnife facility.

He emphasised that free liver and lung transplants are being conducted at the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, a model unparalleled elsewhere, and notably, Sindh’s CyberKnife unit is the only one worldwide offering free treatment. The Sindh government prioritises human health and life, he stressed.

He said the Sindh government is working on improving roads, and Sindh’s universities are providing excellent educational services. Under the solarisation project, the government is undertaking a unique initiative to provide affordable solar electricity to millions of people, he added.

He also said that guided by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s vision, the construction of 2.1 million houses for flood victims, granting them ownership rights, stands as one of the Sindh government’s most significant projects.

Memon said the public has increasingly placed their trust in the PPP in successive elections, resulting in higher votes. He acknowledged the existing challenges, and affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing them. He commended President Zardari, PPP chief Bilawal, Faryal Talpur and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for their exceptional contributions to Sindh’s development.

He noted that individuals from various provinces are coming to Sindh for employment and business opportunities, which serves as a significant testament to the government’s performance. He emphasised that all provinces are dear to the PPP, and Sindh warmly welcomes people from across the country. He mentioned that the government is currently entangled in a legal dispute in the Supreme Court concerning Rs180 billion in cess tax collected by the excise department.

He said that these funds are crucial for Sindh to continue serving its people effectively, especially given the province’s limited financial resources. He hoped that these funds would be released to facilitate ongoing development work.

Replying to a query, he said the home minister and the Sindh police chief have already provided clarification regarding Chinese nationals. “We value the safety of Chinese nationals more than our own lives. Some SOPs have been established regarding security, and we want everyone to adhere to these SOPs.”

Responding to another question, he said a professor can certainly become a VC, but if a better candidate can be found among administrative experts, they too will be given a chance.

When asked about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he said the party is facing serious internal contradictions. “We want them to come to the negotiating table, and put an end to foreign conspiracies against the country. When their founder was punished, not a single person came out to protest.”