Niaz Ahmad Akhtar

Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Urdu: ; born 15 June 1960) is a Pakistani academic who is currently serving as the chairman of the Higher Education of Pakistan. He is also a professor emeritus at the University of the Punjab.

Previously he has been vice-chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University, University of the Punjab, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, University of Sahiwal, , Information Technology University, Lahore and the rector of the National Textile University, Faisalabad . He was also the vice-chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council from Punjab for 3 years term (2021-2024).

In recognition of his outstanding performance in the field of Education (Engineering & Technology), he was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 2015. Early life and education

Akhtar was born on 15 June 1960 in Basti Dosa, Dera Ghazi Khan. He has an undergraduate and a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of the Punjab, Lahore.

For the first time in Pakistan, he launched MSc, MS and PhD programs in the field of Total Quality Management.

Vice-chancellor at the University of the Punjab Akhtar served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Punjab from 2018 to 2022. Under his leadership the university witnessed the most progressive years in its history. The most notable improvement was the continuous advancement in the international ranking of the university. Despite being one of the oldest and the largest university of the country, the University of the Punjab appeared in the international ranking for the first time in 2018 under the leadership of Akhtar. Among the top 78% universities of the world in 2018, the university improved by ~5% per year, reaching the top 57% universities of the world in 2022.

Akhtar made efforts to restructure the academic organization of the university. The initial 13 faculties and 83 teaching departments were modified to 19 Faculties and 146 departments, centers, institutes, colleges and schools.

Under the leadership of Akhtar, the university launched new program/courses at the bachelors, masters and PhD level. The courses like neuroscience, optics & photonics, social policy and social entrepreneurship were offered for the first time in Pakistan. Akhtar also significantly increased the research funding of the university to reform the research output.

Akhtar also took several other steps for the development of the university, including implementation of online teaching and research during the COVID-19 pandemic. University of the Punjab was the first national university to make such a transition to minimize the academic interruption for students.

Rector at the National Textile University As the Rector of National Textile University, he created four new faculties and ten new departments, growing the number of students by three times, faculty strength by four times and revenue of the university by five times.

Vice-chancellor at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila In 2014, he became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila. In addition to increasing the number of students and faculty, he started many new programs including 12 new BS, MS and Ph.D. programs. He established new centers including Technology Incubation Center, Staff Development Center, E-Rozgaar Center and Social Entrepreneurship Center. He established Departments of Computer Sciences, Electronics Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Basic Sciences in a state-of-art new Academic Block. He was also instrumental in getting approved of the University Statues in 2017. Owing to his significant contributions, he was decorated with the National Award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2015, in the Field of Education (Engineering & Technology).

Vice-chancellor at the University of Sahiwal In 2021, Akhtar was assigned the additional charge of the University of Sahiwal (UoS) for a period of three months or until a regular appointment was made. He established new faculties at the university and modified various existing ones. He also established the online admission portal for the first time in the history of the university. He took steps to promote research culture at the university, developed national and international linkages, and improved the transport facilities at the university.

Vice-chancellor at Quaid-i-Azam University Akhtar was appointed vice-chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University for a period of four years on 10 March 2023. He assumed his role on 14 March 2023.

Vice-chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Akhtar served as Vice-Chairman (Punjab) of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for over 9 years.

Awards

Institution of Engineers Pakistan, National Award of Excellence - (2008, 2009 & 2015) Best Research Paper, Award by HEC - (2012) Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Government of Pakistan - (2015) Quality in Higher Education: Challenges and Practices Abdul Raouf, Riaz Hussain Qureshi and Niaz Ahmad published by Punjab University, 2009.

Also See Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad University of the Punjab National Textile University Faisalabad