TP REPORT
PESHAWAR: Prof Emeritus Dr Jehan Bakht, a noted Fulbright scholar and seasoned academic administrator, has concluded a long and distinguished career spanning research, teaching and institutional leadership.
Dr Bakht holds a PhD from Quaid-i-Azam University in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, and has undertaken postdoctoral research in the United Kingdom, United States, Italy and Argentina. He also earned LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Peshawar, securing a gold medal.
Over the course of his career, he supervised 45 PhD and 121 MPhil scholars, authored six books and published around 250 research papers. His contributions to innovation include one registered crop variety, two additional varieties submitted for final approval, and three registered patents.
He has received several national honours, including the Research Productivity Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology on three occasions, the Research Development Award from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Science and Technology Department, the HEC Best Teacher Award, the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences Gold Medal. He is also affiliated with 33 international professional societies as a member or fellow.
Dr Bakht currently serves as Professor Emeritus at the University of Agriculture Peshawar. During his career, he held vice chancellor positions at multiple institutions, including the University of Agriculture Peshawar, University of Swat, Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak, Islamia College University Peshawar and the University of Peshawar. He also served as the founding vice chancellor of Agriculture University Swat.
His tenure in various leadership roles saw the establishment of key institutions and facilities, including Agriculture University Swat, the Shangla campus of the University of Swat (now University of Shangla), the Women Campus at the University of Swat, and an Energy Centre at Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak.
During his seven-year term as vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Dr Bakht implemented strict financial discipline and austerity measures. According to official records, he did not claim travel or medical allowances, paid for his official residence utilities from his personal salary, and refrained from using air conditioning or heating in his office.
No new hiring was carried out during this period, while approximately 450 employees were laid off under right-sizing measures. He also reportedly did not take any leave during his tenure.
Under his leadership, the university secured approximately Rs3 billion in government grants for salaries and pensions, while internally generated revenue increased from Rs650 million to Rs1.3 billion. Key developments included the establishment of a Technology Development Centre worth Rs2 billion, the launch of two new faculties and more than two dozen academic programmes, and the solarisation of over 60 per cent of the campus.
Additional achievements included the acquisition of 55 kanals of land in Regi Lalma Town, registration of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) with the Higher Education Commission, and the strengthening of academic linkages with national and international institutions.
Dr Bakht maintained that all decisions taken during his tenure were in accordance with relevant laws and university statutes.
“I have honestly performed my duty throughout my career, as I will be accountable to Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgement for all my deeds,” he said.
