Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Senator questions PIFD VC's tenure, Rs2b fund release

Senator Bushra Anjum Butt on Wednesday questioned the tenure of the Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) and the release of more than Rs2 billion in institutional funds, while criticising the federal education minister for repeatedly missing meetings of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and disregarding its directives. The senator accused the minister of ignoring the committee’s rulings in a dispute involving the tenure of Hina Tayyaba, the vice chancellor of PIFD. Speaking during a session of the Senate body this week, Butt said the education minister had failed to take the committee seriously. “I just want to bring this matter to everybody’s attention, and to the chairperson of the Standing Committee for Education. I feel it’s time that the education minister needs to take the Senate seriously. I have been attending the meetings but the minister has never been present,” she said. She said the committee had held six to seven meetings on the matter, during which questions were raised about “misuse of power and financial embezzlement.” According to Butt, the committee ruled that Tayyaba’s tenure had ended in December and that she should step aside, with any inquiries conducted “in transparent manner.” Despite the ruling, the senator alleged that the minister not only appointed Tayyaba as interim vice chancellor but also elevated her to professor and authorised the release of more than Rs2 billion in institutional funds under her authority. “So I feel this is ridiculing the Senate Standing Committee. I would appreciate it if this matter is transferred to the Privilege Committee, and I also want to refer it to the Finance Committee,” she said. “If the standing committee’s role is merely a formality, then tell me — or if it is a platform where people knock on the door and ask for justice — so I can work accordingly,” she added, stating that she wanted the minister to explain why he did not follow the committee’s ruling. The senator further alleged that officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had taken the position that the Senate had no authority to question a vice chancellor’s tenure. “We need to get this house in order,” she concluded.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/H51qYEM

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