Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has strongly opposed the Sindh government’s decision to appoint bureaucrats as vice-chancellors of public sector universities in the province. In a letter addressed to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed termed such a move as detrimental to academic integrity. He urged the provincial administration to abandon plans to amend the Sindh Universities and Colleges Acts Act, 2018, to facilitate such changes. Dr Ahmed expressed grave concern over reports of proposed legislative amendments that would change the criteria for appointing venture capitalists and vice-chancellors in public universities in Sindh. The proposed changes, if enacted, would allow those without a PhD to be eligible for these key academic positions, a move that HEC warns will harm the academic standards of higher education institutions. Appointing non-academic administrators to positions traditionally reserved for academics could undermine academic freedom, stifle critical thinking and set a harmful precedent for other provinces, the letter reads. "These decisions will have far-reaching consequences for the quality and autonomy of higher education."
Citing the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on April 7, 2021, the letter reminds the Sindh government that the HEC is recognized as the only national standard-setting body for higher education in Pakistan. The ICC resolution reinforced the need for the HEC to monitor and maintain uniformity in higher education policies across the country.
