Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Dr. Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), as the new Chairman of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The Federal Ministry of Education has released an official notification confirming the appointment, which will be for a two-year term under the amended legislation.
Previously, a nine-member search committee headed by Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of MQM-Pakistan conducted interviews and submitted a shortlist of candidates to the Prime Minister. The shortlisted names included Dr. Niaz Ahmad, former Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, and Vice Chancellor of Punjab University Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah.
The summary reportedly remained under consideration at the Prime Minister’s Office for nearly two months. Approval for Dr. Niaz Ahmad’s appointment was granted three days before the formal notification was issued on Friday. The position of HEC Chairman had remained vacant since July 29, 2025, making this the first appointment to the post in nearly seven months.
Born in 1962 in Dera Ghazi Khan, Dr Niaz Ahmad has previously served as vice chancellor of both Quaid-e-Azam University and the University of the Punjab. His extensive academic and administrative experience positions him to lead Pakistan’s higher education body at a critical juncture.
Source: Dunya News
