Aror University VC gets four-year extension

The Sindh government has approved a four-year extension for Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Zahid Hussain Khand, reversing an earlier decision to advertise the post and appoint a new VC through a selection process. The extension was reportedly approved following a recommendation by Sindh Assembly Speaker Owais Qadir Shah, according to sources in the Universities and Boards Department. The development comes amid a series of extensions granted to incumbent VCs of public sector universities in Sindh. The provincial government has also recently approved extensions for Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences VC Dr Ikramuddin Aijaz and Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage VC Dr Arbela Bhutto. Sources said the chief secretary had earlier opposed an immediate extension for Dr Khand and recommended that the post be advertised and a new VC appointed through a selection board. According to the sources, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had initially agreed with the chief secretary's recommendation and approved the issuance of an advertisement for the appointment of a new VC. The Universities and Boards Department subsequently initiated the process, with Secretary Abbas Baloch writing to the relevant authorities for issuance of the advertisement. However, sources said the summary concerning Dr Khand's reappointment was subsequently called back following intervention by Speaker Owais Qadir Shah. The chief minister then approved the summary, granting Dr Khand another four-year term without making his reappointment conditional on the outcome of a selection process. Following the reversal of the decision, Secretary Universities and Boards stopped the advertisement for the appointment of a new VC at Aror University. Sources said the chief secretary had proposed that Dr Khand could be considered for reappointment if the selection process failed to produce a suitable candidate. The recommendation, however, was not retained in the final decision granting him a four-year extension. The development also paved the way for the extension of Dr Arbela Bhutto's tenure as VC of Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University. Her current term is due to expire in February 2027. Sources said the chief secretary had similarly recommended that the post at Allah Buksh University be advertised and filled through the prescribed selection process. The Sindh government had earlier approved a four-year extension for LUMHS VC Dr Ikramuddin Aijaz. Last month, it also approved an extension for Dr Nusrat Shah, VC of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana. The Express Tribune contacted Universities and Boards Secretary Abbas Baloch for the government's position on the matter. Baloch said the department had not issued an advertisement for the Aror University VC's post. "If the controlling authority has granted an extension, we will issue the notification," he added.