Dr Nasira Khatoon appointed Karachi University's acting vice-chancellor

• Sindh govt notifies Nasira Khatoon's appointment as KU's acting VC in an interim arrangement.
• Appointment made after removal of Dr Khalid Iraqi from post in compliance of SHC order.
• Nasira is one of the senior most professors at the varsity.

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday appointed Dr Nasir Khatoon as Karachi University's first-ever female acting vice-chancellor after the previous person to hold office, Dr Khalid Iraqi, was removed in compliance with Sindh High Court's order.

The newly appointed acting VC is one of the senior most professors at the varsity.

An official notification issued by the Sindh Universities and Boards Department said that Acting Senior Professor and Dean Faculty of Science Dr Nasira Khatoon has been appointed as KU's acting VC.

However, the appointment of Nasira Khatoon on the post is an interim arrangement until further notice.

Meanwhile, Professor Dr Maqsood Ali Ansari, the chairman of the department of genetics, has been given the charge of the registrar of the University of Karachi.

The SHC, last week had ordered to keep in abeyance all the administrative and financial decision taken by the acting vice chancellor of the University of Karachi since January 26, while ordering removal of Dr Khalid Iraqi from the post.

The direction came on a contempt-of-court application filed by Prof Dr Ahmed Qadri and others against the non-compliance of court orders to remove KU’s acting VC and appoint the senior-most professor from among the 10 most senior professors as acting VC.

A brief profile

Dr Khatoon her PhD in 1994 in Parasitology from KU's Department of Zoology, while her field of specialisation is clinical and veterinary Parasitology and Pathology, Fish Pathology. 

The professor completed her MSc in 1986 with the first division from the department of zoology, and BSc in 1983 with the first division from APWA College for Women. She had served as the chairperson department of zoology from October 25, 2019 to November 3, 2020.

She was appointed as the professor at the zoology department on November 11, 2005, and worked as the associate professor from January 1, 2001 to November 10, 2005, whereas she served as the assistant professor from March 28, 1994 till December 31, 2000.

To date, seven students have completed their PhDs under her supervision while three students have completed MPhil under her supervision. Besides, being the dean of the faculty of science, she was also the acting dean of the faculty of engineering. 

Dr Khatoon had also attended many international symposia, workshops, and courses around the world and from 1996-2000 had completed five research grant projects. 

She has also been a member of various scientific committees and board of studies and board of faculty, as well as was a member of a senate, and academic council. She was also a subject examiner of various colleges and universities.

The KU acting vice-chancellor is also a co-writer of 35 books while jointly presented 190 research publications in international and national journals.