The Higher Education Commission (HEC) had approved the addition of a botanical garden at the University of Karachi in 2005, spread over several acres. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) has given all public sector universities in the province eight days to remove teaching staff holding non-teaching and administrative positions.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the vice chancellors, the SHEC has warned that any failure to implement the directive will make the respective university administrations solely accountable for the consequences.
There are around 30 public sector universities in the province, where many faculty members are currently serving in various administrative roles, such as registrars, controllers of examinations, directors of quality enhancement cells (QEC), and heads of the office of research, innovation, and commercialisation (ORIC), among other positions.
University administrations have often justified this practice due to financial constraints, arguing that assigning additional charge to faculty members does not require extra remuneration, as they continue to draw their regular salaries.
However, the SHEC’s recent directive is based on judicial rulings, specifically citing the Sindh High Court’s order in CP No 1757 of 2024.
The court’s judgment, which was further reinforced by an order from the SHC Circuit Bench in Hyderabad on Dec 9, 2025, explicitly forbids the appointment, posting, or continuation of faculty members or PhD holders in non-teaching administrative roles, whether on an additional charge, look-after, or officiating (OPS) basis.
