HASSAN ABBAS

LAHORE: Lieutenant General Muhammad Akram Khan (R) is likely to assume the charge of acting chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) until a new chairperson is appointed.

Sources said that as the tenure of the Chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) expired on December 16, the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has sent a summary to the Punjab Chief Minister to appoint acting chairperson.

According to the sources, three names have been sent to the Chief Minister to fill the vacant post until a full-time chairperson is appointment. The sources, however, said that among the three names, Lt General Muhammad Akram Khan ® is likely to assume the charge of the PHEC.

The interim Chairperson is expected to take charge by Monday, December 17, while the advertisement is expected to be floated by the HED in a few weeks.

According to The Punjab Higher Education Commission Act 2014, “If the office of the Chairperson is vacant due to any cause, the Controlling Authority may nominate any member of the Commission as Chairperson for a maximum period of three months during which period the Controlling Authority shall appoint a Chairperson”.The commission of the PHEC consists of 17 members and among them three were chosen to be sent to Chief Minister Usman Buzdar as he is the controlling authority of the PHEC. The three names included Lt General Muhammad Akram Khan(R), Prof Dr Najma Najam and Prof Dr Khaleeq-ur-Rehman.