Wise Chancellors

Hi Irfan,

appreciate your point about once in a while a General doing a good job.

Unfortunately such good actions have been an exception rather than a norm.

Yes, I taught at CAE for about 2 years in mid eighties.

best

naeem

#6 by irfanhamid
The change in UET Lahore is really admirable. A part of credit definitely goes to current VC. But giving all credit only to the VC and also admiring the point that he is an ex general that’s why UET is working in the right manner is not right. The change in culture of UET as well as all other universities was initiated totally by CM Mian Shahbaz Sharif. I graduated from UET Taxila. My session was 1996 Electrical. There was hell of politics till start of our session. The VC remained the same and he was also a civilian but all the political parties and leaders vanished from university in 1996. The only reason was change in government policies and approach of governance. The government stopped political backing of all student parties and leaders in all universities and they vanished even having a civilian VC. All problems that VC Lahore being a general and non technical person deprived of sensitivity of highly qualified brains has created never been projected.

#6 by irfanhamid
The change in UET Lahore is really admirable. A part of credit definitely goes to current VC. But giving all credit only to the VC and also admiring the point that he is an ex general that’s why UET is working in the right manner is not right. The change in culture of UET as well as all other universities was initiated totally by CM Mian Shahbaz Sharif. I graduated from UET Taxila. My session was 1996 Electrical. There was hell of politics till start of our session. The VC remained the same and he was also a civilian but all the political parties and leaders vanished from university in 1996. The only reason was change in government policies and approach of governance. The government stopped political backing of all student parties and leaders in all universities and they vanished even having a civilian VC. All problems that VC Lahore being a general and non technical person deprived of sensitivity of highly qualified brains has created never been projected.

There is a fomous saying in punjabi ``Isbagool tay kuj naan phole``.

#7 Fuzair,

No I don`t have any idea what`s going on at QAU.

Irfan.

#6 Irfan Hamid

Interesting point. Any idea what things are like at QAU now that theres been a (long retired) army officer as Vice-Chancellor for a couple of years?

Hi,

You have a valid point. Most VCs at our universities are not worth the title. But, there is one rather veiled allusion in your article that I wish to take issue with. The ``generalization`` of VCs. When I was thinking of going to an engineering school in Pakistan, I discounted all the UETs becuase it would have taken me anywhere from 5 to 7 years to complete a 4 year degree due to the constant strikes/protests by students and teachers. So I chose another school.

But towards the end of the last century, UET Lahore got a former general as a VC. That guy cleaned the university up in a year or so. Now the situation is such that UET Lahore students graduate in 4 years, there are almost no politics or violence on campus and the standard of education has gone up. So I think credit must be given wherever it is due.

Irfan.

PS: Were you a teacher at the CAE in the mid 80s?

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Very good reading -
as someone who lived in Karachi University Campus for quite a some time I have seen lot of VC`s come and go from Dr. Manzur Ahmed to now Dr. Pir Zada Qasim - its always good to be a VC says my mom who herself tried to be VC but became dean she did use all her powers from my Father`s ( whos a grade 21 Officer in IB ) to MQM`s Pir Saaab`s Phone Call but she was not always the popular choice - anyhow, lets take a look at one of the examples , Karachi University`s VC is elected by Chancellor which is the Gov. of Sind - KU`s last VC was Dr. Safi from Pharmacy someone who became VC because of Gov. then now Senate Chairman Somroo was happened to his patient and a close personal friend ; Gov. Somroo took a decision out of blue and nominated Dr.Safi VC - then came MQM`s Government and Dr.Safi was asked by Gov.Irshat Hussain Bhai to resign or they will sack him - Dr. Safi resigned ofcourse due to personal reasons and Dr.Pir Zada Qasim ( MQM`s Man in KU ) became VC waiting to resign when Government Changes - our University Politics is dirty very dirty the cahir of VC deserves to be chaired by someone outside from University but this doesn`t happen - though lot of things are on the right track in KU but again the Admin should be more organized - last year alone the KU bill for PTCL was Rs.2.3 Million for 2 Months- who made these calls?

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some University Land was donated by former VC of KU and when he knew that his case is in IB - and was certain somehow he died in 2-3 days ( and he really died somehow ) - we had a example of Dr. Wahab of IBA and he became VC of KU asked Rangers to take controll of affair and rangers did a good job , lot of people says Rangers shouldn`t be allowed in KU - these people don`t know some of the parties in KU - MQM - Jamiat Clash is always happening in KU somewhere ;
Dr. Ata`s HEJ dept is one of teh best in South Asia for Advance Chemistry and Dr.Ata is someone who is widely respected by many of his critics specially when he was MOS and he helped KU and Karachi a lot by opening more depts and getting atleast 3oo% more funding for new research work - his new Higher Education Reforms might not be perfect but could work -

Very good reading -
as someone who lived in Karachi University Campus for quite a some time I have seen lot of VC`s come and go from Dr. Manzur Ahmed to now Dr. Pir Zada Qasim - its always good to be a VC says my mom who herself tried to be VC but became dean she did use all her powers from my Father`s ( whos a grade 21 Officer in IB ) to MQM`s Pir Saaab`s Phone Call but she was not always the popular choice - anyhow, lets take a look at one of the examples , Karachi University`s VC is elected by Chancellor which is the Gov. of Sind - KU`s last VC was Dr. Safi from Pharmacy someone who became VC because of Gov. then now Senate Chairman Somroo was happened to his patient and a close personal friend ; Gov. Somroo took a decision out of blue and nominated Dr.Safi VC - then came MQM`s Government and Dr.Safi was asked by Gov.Irshat Hussain Bhai to resign or they will sack him - Dr. Safi resigned ofcourse due to personal reasons and Dr.Pir Zada Qasim ( MQM`s Man in KU ) became VC waiting to resign when Government Changes - our University Politics is dirty very dirty the cahir of VC deserves to be chaired by someone outside from University but this doesn`t happen - though lot of things are on the right track in KU but again the Admin should be more organized - last year alone the KU bill for PTCL was Rs.2.3 Million for 2 Months- who made these calls?

---

some University Land was donated by former VC of KU and when he knew that his case is in IB - and was certain somehow he died in 2-3 days ( and he really died somehow ) - we had a example of Dr. Wahab of IBA and he became VC of KU asked Rangers to take controll of affair and rangers did a good job , lot of people says Rangers shouldn`t be allowed in KU - these people don`t know some of the parties in KU - MQM - Jamiat Clash is always happening in KU somewhere ;
Dr. Ata`s HEJ dept is one of teh best in South Asia for Advance Chemistry and Dr.Ata is someone who is widely respected by many of his critics specially when he was MOS and he helped KU and Karachi a lot by opening more depts and getting atleast 3oo% more funding for new research work - his new Higher Education Reforms might not be perfect but could work -

Since early 2003, when I started looking into the fake degree scandal, I kept Dr Atta-ur-Rahman and other top officials of the HEC informed. Names of institutions and individuals connected with a few of the cases I unearthed were made known to HEC, but it failed to move. It became clear to me that HEC would do nothing until the matter was exposed in the press.

Under pressure, the HEC has now published ads listing names of institutions that students ought to avoid. It however fails to list many of the institutions that the HEC/UGC/GoP has been party to giving charter to, and which are grossly sub-standard.

In 1985 there were only 25 universities, many of which were fairly rotten, but in one year alone, 2002, the government went wild and gave charter to 27 universities! The HEC was party to this, even though it tends to wash its hands off higher education in the provinces. What then of places like NUML which lies in the shadow of HEC within the capital?

Continuous media pressure and oversight by the PM`s and President`s offices will keep the HEC vigilant. If the HEC`s charter needs strengthening, this is the time to do it. We now need a tiger with teeth, not a docile cat that just dishes out money.

Isa Daudpota

Naeem

I am for the oldest geographical name of the place or some historical folklore hero. Or someone who has died many many years ago & has contributed significantly in that area.

Obviously, no living Governors, Presidents, Ministers, Bureacrats etc.

Even the Roads, stations, towns which have been Islamised/Pakistanized is not being fair to the history. What was wrong with Layalpur, Mintgumry, Kamilpur, Bandar Road, Drigh road, Elphi etc etc if these were the oldest known names.

hi, good to see you here. You found out Chowk somewhat late.

nhk