Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran has said faculty members appointed on a political, rather than merit basis were the real hurdles in the varsity’s development.
He expressed these views while inaugurating the polymer and material research laboratories at the Polymer Engineering and Technology Department on Monday. Faculty of Engineering and Technology Dean Dr Ehsan Malik, Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology Director Dr Zahoor-ul-Hassan Rizvi, Department Chairman Dr Tahir Jamil and senior faculty members were also present on the occasion.
The VC said PU had the potential to become the region’s top university and could also be included in the top 500 universities of the world, but its progress to the top had been hindered by faculty members recruited on a political basis. He said these senior members of the faculty camouflaged reality and perpetuated a culture of stoking politics within the administration.
He said the present administration made decisions and recommendations by evaluating which projects would promote a culture of research at the varsity, and was not influenced by political bias. The Department’s chairman briefed the VC about laboratories, while the VC also visited the laboratories and inspected the experimental instruments.
