The Senate Standing Committee has put an end to indefinite tenures for Vice Chancellors and has introduced sweeping governance reforms at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD), focusing particularly on transparency, accountability, and inclusive representation. The amended legislation now sets a fixed four-year term for the Vice Chancellor and introduces important structural changes aimed at improving institutional governance and preventing prolonged control by a single individual.
The decision came after the Committee—headed by Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt—reviewed a compliance report highlighting serious governance lapses at PIFD, especially concerning the extended tenure of the existing Vice Chancellor, who has been serving for over 25 years. Senator Butt firmly criticized such lengthy terms, noting that extended tenures can negatively impact institutional health and independence. “When a person remains in power this long, the system stops functioning properly and becomes centered on the individual,” she remarked.
To resolve this issue comprehensively, the committee introduced amendments limiting the Vice Chancellor’s tenure explicitly to four years, disallowing any extensions. Former Vice Chancellors wishing to continue serving in office must reapply through a fully transparent and competitive selection process managed by a dedicated Search Committee. This measure aims specifically to eliminate favoritism and ensure merit-based leadership appointments.
The committee also addressed operational inefficiencies caused by delayed Senate meetings at PIFD, often due to the unavailability of the Chancellor, a role traditionally held by the President of Pakistan. Recognizing the urgency of routine institutional decisions, the committee approved a provision allowing the Pro-Chancellor—currently the Federal Minister for Education—to preside over Senate meetings in the Chancellor’s absence. This measure will ensure smooth operations and prevent administrative bottlenecks from hindering the institute’s functioning.
Additionally, the reforms introduced a gender-inclusive directive, mandating a minimum of 33% female representation within the PIFD Senate. This change aligns closely with Prime Ministerial directives on promoting inclusive and gender-balanced leadership across all federal institutions, ensuring representation and participation of women in key university positions.
The committee further approved aligning PIFD’s governing structure with the general guidelines of the Federal University Ordinance of 2002, creating uniform standards across federally chartered higher education institutions. Senator Butt also requested a complete list of federal education institutions whose Vice Chancellors have exceeded two terms, signaling wider scrutiny and potential governance reforms across other institutions as well.
On a procedural note, the committee clarified that although the PIFD representative was delayed for the meeting, they remained in communication with the concerned ministry to ensure smooth coordination.
