Sindh Cabinet Directs JSMU to Consider 3-Year Appointment of Prof. Nighat Shah
KARACHI:Professor Dr. Nighat Shah, daughter of former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and a professor at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), has been directed to be appointed as a professor for three years, just one day before her scheduled retirement, following a decision by the Sindh Cabinet.
Secretary of Boards and Universities Abbas Baloch has issued a formal notification in this regard.
The notification cites a decision taken during the Sindh Cabinet meeting held on August 5, under agenda item 16. It states that, in the “larger public interest” and to ensure continuity of specialized medical services, academic leadership, postgraduate medical education, research, innovation and institutional standards, the vice chancellor was directed to consider appointing Dr. Nighat Shah as a professor at JSMU for three years.
However, the wording subsequently changes from “consider” to a formal directive, instructing the vice chancellor to immediately initiate the necessary process for Dr. Nighat Shah’s three-year appointment as professor.
The notification further directs that the cabinet decision be implemented “without delay and in letter and spirit,” with an implementation report submitted to the Department of Universities and Boards on a priority basis.
### PM&DC Notification Raises Questions
The appointment has been linked to a Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) notification issued on May 19, 2026. However, the notification itself states that permission to engage retired faculty members on a contractual basis is “enabling in nature” and does not constitute a mandatory or binding direction for any institution.
Under the PM&DC policy, public medical and dental institutions were permitted to engage retired faculty members up to the age of 65 purely on a contractual basis. The decision, however, explicitly left it to individual institutions to determine whether such appointments were required, in accordance with their needs, rules, regulations and available resources.
The PM&DC notification also states that such contractual appointments would not create any right to permanent employment, seniority or regular absorption into service.
It further specifies that the appointment of retired faculty should not adversely affect the promotion prospects, career progression or cadre structure of junior faculty.
The PM&DC’s official website has also confirmed the issuance of the public notice concerning government medical and dental institutions on May 19, 2026.
The policy has raised questions over why the matter of a specific retired faculty member was brought before the provincial cabinet when the PM&DC had left the decision to the respective medical institution.
Questions have also been raised over why the cabinet issued instructions for immediate action and sought an implementation report for a specific individual when the PM&DC notification constituted a general policy for public medical and dental institutions rather than an order for the appointment of any particular person.
Meanwhile, concerns have reportedly emerged that Dr. Nighat Shah’s appointment could affect the seniority of associate professors Dr. Shazia Naseeb, Dr. Nasreen Fatima, Dr. Saba Khan, Dr. Iram Majid and Dr. Maimoona Rehman.:::
