LAHORE – The King Edward Medical University (KEMU) started its 150 years celebrations, but the institution still awaits a regular vice chancellor (VC) since it was granted university status five years ago, showing how serious the provincial government is in dealing with the premier medical institution.
The KEMU is the oldest seat of medical education in Pakistan and was awarded university status, as result of the long overdue demand of the medical profession and its alumni. The status of a chartered university was formalised by an act of the Punjab government in 2005 and was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly.
But despite lapse of so many years, the government has yet to appoint a regular VC in the country’s premier educational institution. Professor Mumtaz Hassan became the first acting KEMU VC, followed by Professor Zafarullah Khan who recently retired, while the government has appointed Professor Asad Aslam the pro-VC to look after affairs of the university, as post of the VC remains vacant.
Talking to Pakistan Today, a senior KEMU doctor said that unfortunately differences had arisen on the issue of creation of two medical universities in Punjab. The newly-created University of Health Sciences, which had come into existence earlier than the KEMU, opposed the creation of KEMU “tooth and nail”. There was confrontation between two groups of doctors for a very long time.
The then Punjab chief minister disagreed with the proposals to ensure that the historic and widely acclaimed institution regained its due place amongst regional medical institutions. The government advertised post of the VC at the international level for the first time in 2005. The process of selection of a suitable regular VC did not materialise and the additional charge of the post was given to the senior most professor in Punjab, Professor Mumtaz Hassan.
The present government had cancelled appointment of all officers working after age of superannuation to protect privileges and merit of officers affected by the decisions of re-employment. The post of VC once again fell vacant and this time again, within one week, the new acting VC was appointed. There was a regular pro-VC of the university at that time but no order was issued by the chancellor in May 2008 to give him acting charge of office of the VC.
But in order to allow healthy competition and selection of the very best out of those interested to serve the institution, the post was re-advertised in November 2008. Applications were received and the general impression was that since the first convocation had been announced, selection of the VC would be taking place just after that. According to the act the same has to be done by the search committee duly appointed by the government.
The committee had been notified by the government much earlier. But the process remained unfinished for some unknown reasons. The post was yet again re-advertised in 2010 and the Punjab Health Department had already issued notification of retirement of the incumbent VC, earlier in the year, as a list of those retiring, in the following year was released in routine every year.
The health department maintained that a seniority list of employees for purposes of promotions as well as placement in order of seniority was evident from innumerable incidents in the past. But this process never progressed any further. In the meantime, the pro-VC completed his tenure of four years and subsequently he sent a proposal for selection of the pro-VC to the Punjab health secretary consisting of four senior most professors of the KEMU.
The health department pointed out to the VC that since he was retiring shortly, it would be appropriate that the new pro-VC be proposed by the succeeding regular VC to be appointed soon as the incumbent pro-VC would be working with the new VC. Subsequently, Professor Asad Aslam Khan was made the pro-VC while post of a regular VC still remains vacant.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad dispelled the impression that the government was not interested in appointing a regular VC. He said that the search committee has already been constituted by the government and the health department has not only received applications but short-listed names of candidates as well. Fawad said that the names would now be sent to each member of the search committee for their comments.
“It is a time consuming process and will take not more than 4 to 6 weeks. But one thing is for sure that the KEMU will have a regular VC and the government will not appoint someone with an acting charge,” he concluded.
KEMU, an architectural wonder
LAHORE – King Edward Medical University (KEMU) is celebrating 150 years of its existence today. The university like many other artefacts that the British left in the sub-continent is no less than a marvel. British occupied the subcontinent for economic and cultural motives.
They were technologically and scientifically advanced and brought modernisation to the sub continent, adding modern concepts to the already colourful cultural mix of India and started several important and grand, educational as well as architectural projects.
Prominent amongst them are King Edward Medical College, Aitchison College, Lawrence Gardens, Town Hall and Punjab University. KEMU is a centre for medical education and has been declared a national heritage.
The exterior of the building itself is incredible and captivates the viewer in its aura. Beenish Mahmood
