The appointment of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman has been delayed after a technical malfunction in the National Information Technology Board (NITB) job portal disrupted the application process.
The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt. The senator questioned the expected timeline for completing the HEC chairman appointment process and noted that several candidates had faced issues submitting their applications.
Responding to the concern, the Federal Secretary for Education and Acting HEC Chairman clarified that the issue did not originate from the HEC website itself but from the NITB job portal used to collect applications. Due to this glitch, applicants were given an additional week to submit their documents, while those unable to upload files were contacted via email to complete the process.
The secretary added that all candidates were able to apply, though some initially faced difficulties uploading complete documentation. He further confirmed that the selection process for the HEC chairman is ongoing, with a shortlisting and scrutiny committee led by the Minister of State currently reviewing applications. The final panel will be forwarded to the federal cabinet for approval once interviews conclude.
The secretary estimated that the HEC chairman appointment may take another two to three months to finalize. Meanwhile, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt urged the commission to enhance its efficiency and adopt measures to better serve students and applicants through improved systems and transparent procedures.