Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser was appointed as the new vice chancellor (VC) of University of Karachi (KU) on Thursday, replacing the long-serving Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui. On January 4, Siddiqui’s term as KU VC was extended on temporary basis and it was expected that he will get a permanent extension; however, the Governor’s House notified the appointment of a new VC on Thursday. According to a notification issued by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad – also the KU chancellor – Qaiser will perform his duties as the new VC for the next four years. Born on August 15, 1946, Qaiser got his PhD from Karachi in 1976 and got a post-doctorate degree from Germany in 1984. Qaiser had been serving as the VC of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology. Qaiser has 43 years of experience and at least 10 students have completed their PhDs under his supervision. He has also served at KU as an acting vice chancellor on various occasions. He twice remained the KU registrar from August 1999 to August 2001 and January 2004 to July 2004. Meanwhile, appreciating the services rendered by the outgoing KU VC, the Sindh governor wished Siddiqui well in the times ahead.
