The University of Agriculture Faisalabad is without a vice chancellor, a regular registrar, treasurer and the controller of examinations.
A crisis-like situation has developed in the university vis-à-vis issuance of salaries and funds for various programs and projects, much to anxiety and unrest among faculty and staff of the institution, which is considered as top agriculture university in Asia. A number of MoUs, cases of hiring and promotions of officials and many important documents are waiting for a regular vice chancellor. The day-to-day matters such as official correspondence, NOCs, leaves of staff are stuck sue to absence of a regular vice chancellor.
The university is not only without a vice chancellor but also running without a regular registrar, treasurer and the controller of examinations. The treasurer has been assigned with additional duties of registrar which is not only an extra burden but also a clear violation of the principle of conflict of interest since a person dealing with finances cannot run the university as registrar. The posts of treasurer, registrar and controller of examinations were advertised but have not been finalized by the authorities as yet as selection board is incomplete at the moment. In a statement, the Academic Staff Association of the university requested the government and the authorities concerned to appoint regular vice chancellor, registrar, treasurer and the controller of examinations on immediate basis. “Being representative of the university’s faculty members, we request the government and relevant authorities to immediately appoint a regular vice chancellor, a regular registrar, a regular treasurer and a regular controller of examinations,” the statement read. “The current situation of the university needs urgent attention of the government considering prime minister’s vision of agriculture reforms. How a university can contribute towards agricultural research and economy without leadership?” it asked. “In better interest of the university, community and country, we demand that government take serious action and appoint a regular administration to lead the university,” it stressed.
