NED VC to hold additional charge of Karachi University

KARACHI: Prof Dr Muhammad Tufail Jokhio is set to assume additional charge as vice chancellor of the University of Karachi on Tuesday, replacing Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi after the end of his four-year tenure.

Dr Jokhio is currently serving as vice chancellor of NED University of Engineering and Technology and will continue in the role at Karachi University until a regular vice chancellor is appointed.

The interim arrangement was welcomed by sections of the university staff, who said the incoming administration should move quickly to address pressing financial and governance issues. Karachi University Teachers’ Society head Dr Syed Ghufran Alam said, “These issues, including non-payment of dues to both teaching and the non-teaching staff, need immediate attention. The university desperately needs a bailout package and accountability of all the wrongs done over the years.” He also said the government should neither ignore merit nor delay a decision on the appointment of a permanent vice chancellor.

On Monday, a large number of non-teaching employees gathered outside the administrative block to observe a “Youm-i-Tashakkur” marking Prof Iraqi’s departure. The event was organised by an alliance of at least four non-teaching staff bodies. Muhammad Farhan Khan, who heads the alliance, said, “Prof Iraqi didn’t do anything to benefit the university or its employees. We welcome the new vice chancellor.” The employees also called for a bailout package for the university and an independent audit of the past seven years.

Prof Iraqi had been leading the university since 2019, when he was appointed acting vice chancellor. He was later made permanent vice chancellor in 2022. The provincial government had rejected a proposal to extend his tenure and had recently stopped him from convening a meeting of the Karachi University syndicate.

Regular appointment process underway

The process to appoint a permanent vice chancellor has nearly been completed. More than 40 candidates have already been interviewed by the search committee, and three names have been shortlisted. Security clearance of the shortlisted candidates is underway before the government makes the final appointment.

Dr Jokhio is a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK and the Institution of Engineers Pakistan. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering, specialising in manufacturing systems, from the University of Nottingham.

His academic work has included supervision of doctoral scholars in advanced materials, manufacturing systems, sustainable fuels, additive manufacturing, biomedical alloys and supply chain quality management. He has also led international collaborations under Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+ and UK-Pakistan higher education partnership frameworks.

He received the PEC Engineers’ Excellence Award in academia and research in 2023, the Sindh government’s High Performers Award in 2023, and the Wall of Fame Award by the Academic Awards Forum in 2018. He also played a role in establishing a constituent college of NED University in Tharparkar.