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Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum, the Executive Director of the Federal Higher Education Commission (HEC), has been sacked from his position due to what has been officially described as unsatisfactory performance. The decision was made during a meeting of the HEC held on Wednesday, which was chaired by the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Mukhtar.
The meeting lasted for about an hour, during which a PowerPoint presentation was given highlighting the performance report of Dr. Zia. Following the presentation, his performance was deemed unsatisfactory, and it was decided to relieve him of his duties.
In his place, Mazhar Saeed, currently serving as the Director General (DG) within the Commission, has been appointed as the acting Executive Director. He also holds the additional charge of Advisor for Planning and Development. His appointment as acting ED comes at a crucial time, as the HEC faces several administrative and strategic challenges.
Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum had been appointed Executive Director in 2023 for a four-year term. However, his tenure has been cut short less than halfway through, underscoring concerns over his performance and management approach.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mukhtar, who is currently serving a one-year extended term as HEC Chairman until July 28, has been a long-time member of the Commission. Before becoming Chairman, he too had served as Executive Director, giving him extensive institutional experience and insight into the Commission’s workings.
Sources suggest that the decision to remove Dr. Zia was not solely based on routine performance evaluation. There had reportedly been growing differences between Dr. Mukhtar and Dr. Zia over several key administrative matters. Among the issues at the heart of the conflict were two major foreign-funded projects, including the controversial procurement of 100,000 laptops at a cost of Rs 12 billion.
These disagreements had reportedly caused friction within the HEC leadership and affected the pace and direction of several initiatives. The removal of Dr. Zia appears to be an attempt to restore cohesion and streamline decision-making at the top level of the Commission.
According to insiders, Chairman Dr. Mukhtar has indicated that an advertisement for the permanent post of Executive Director will be issued within a month. Until then, Mazhar Saeed will oversee the role in an acting capacity, continuing to manage his responsibilities as Advisor for Planning and Development.
The change in leadership at the HEC comes at a critical juncture for the country’s higher education sector, which faces mounting pressure to deliver reforms, improve quality standards, and ensure effective use of public and donor funds. The weeks ahead will reveal whether this administrative shake-up helps stabilize the institution or leads to further internal discord.
