Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar Likely to Be Appointed HEC Chairman

HEC Chairman appointment after long delay.Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar Likely to Be Appointed HEC Chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Office is expected to appoint Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar as the new chairman of the Higher Education Commission.

According to reliable sources, Dr Niaz’s name has been cleared by the Prime Minister’s Office and the formal announcement is likely soon. Senior government officials said the decision has effectively been finalized after weeks of consultations.

Dr Niaz was shortlisted along with two other candidates: University of the Punjab Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Ali and NED University Vice Chancellor Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi. “The appointment process is near completion, and Dr Niaz’s name has been approved,” a senior member of the ruling party said. Another source within PML-N also confirmed that the Prime Minister’s Office has given its clearance.

The position of HEC chairman has remained vacant since July 2025. In the interim, Secretary Education Nadeem Mahbub has been serving as acting chairman, holding the additional charge.

More than 700 candidates applied for the post. Following multiple stages of evaluation, the search committee conducted interviews and narrowed the field to three finalists.

The prolonged delay in appointing a regular chairman has drawn criticism from public and private universities alike. Academic staff associations and private university bodies have repeatedly raised concerns, urging the government to ensure timely leadership at the country’s top higher education regulator.