PM Approves Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad as HEC Chairman,Ending 7th Month Vacancy

PM Approves Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad as HEC Chairman, Ending Seven-Month Vacancy

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University, as Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), bringing an end to a seven-month vacancy at the commission.

Sources said the decision follows the recommendations of a search committee led by Federal Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool. The committee had forwarded three names to the Prime Minister after completing the selection process: Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah, and Dr. Niaz Ahmed. After reviewing the panel’s recommendations, the Prime Minister approved Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad appointment.

According to officials, the approval was granted on Monday, completing the appointment process that had remained pending since last year. An official notification confirming Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad appointment is expected to be issued on Wednesday, February 4.

Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad was born in Dera Ghazi Khan in 1962 and is widely regarded as a seasoned educationist and researcher. He has held senior academic and administrative roles and is currently serving as Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University. Previously, he was appointed as the first permanent Vice Chancellor of the University of the Punjab in 2018, where he is credited with initiating academic reforms and strengthening administrative systems.

Members of the academic community have welcomed the appointment, describing it as a positive step toward restoring continuity and institutional stability at the Higher Education Commission. Many expressed hope that the end of the interim arrangement will allow the HEC to focus more effectively on policy consistency, quality assurance, and long-term planning for Pakistan’s higher education sector.