Acting HEC executive director given sixth extension.

ISLAMABAD -- The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has granted the sixth extension to its executive director (ED) Dr Shaista Sohail as the post of ED has been lying vacant for the last five years.

The post of regular ED, who acts as the principal accounting officer, fell vacant in October 2018 after resignation of Dr Arshad Ali.

Later on, civil servant, Dr Sohail joined the HEC as ED in October 2020 on deputation basis and retired from service in August 2021 after reaching the age of superannuation. Since then, she has been holding the post on a temporary basis. Her last extension ends today (March 31).

However, the HEC commission on March 28, through circular granted her a two month extension starting from April 1.

Meanwhile, the HEC in January this year had advertised the post of ED (for the fifth time) and in response to the advertisement, it received 160 applications.

It is relevant to note here that in the past few years, HEC advertised the post four times only to cancel it later on after pointing out that it had not found a suitable candidate for the job. A justification, if true, raises serious concern on the efficiency of the education ministry, HEC and all universities of the country, which could not provide a suitable candidate for the post of ED.

However, sources said that this was not the case, rather there were some other reasons that led to postponement of the appointment.

Sources said that Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, who joined in August last year had decided that a regular ED will be appointed through a...

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