Interview of 50 candidates for HEC chairman begins today.

ISLAMABAD -- A search committee headed by Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain will conduct interviews of shortlisted candidates for the appointment of chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) from Monday.

The interview process will continue for three days. Sources in the education ministry told Dawn that 140 candidates had applied for the post and 50 of them were shortlisted.

The post of chairman HEC fell vacant on May 29 after the retirement of Dr Tariq Banuri, who completed his four-year term.

Surprisingly, the ministry did not start the process of hiring a new chairman on time and even ads inviting applications was published just a week before the retirement of Dr Banuri.

Post fell vacant on May 29 after retirement of Dr Tariq Banuri

When the ministry knew that the HEC chairman will complete its tenure on May 29, why this process was not initiated in March-April for timely appointment, said an official of the HEC.

'This is unfortunate that around three weeks after the retirement of the chairman, the ministry is going to conduct interviews now,' said the official. He said an inquiry should be conducted to fix responsibility so that in future all such appointments are made on time.

However, an officer of the Ministry of Education said acting charge of the chairman HEC had already been given to Executive Director Dr Shaista Sohail by the ministry on June 15 after approval of the prime minister.

The process of interview is going to start on Monday and after...