‘Underground subways the only way to address Karachi’s transport’
Investment in young generation has no match, says CEO, Data Communication & Control, Samir A. Hoodbhoy

on 24/10/2023

About thirty years ago, I had a dream that Karachi should have underground subways as it is the only way to resolve the issue of transport. Thus, I started lobbying for a 20-year plan, as did US President John F. Kennedy to send a man to the moon in ten years. Our objective was to learn about technologies which we could not procure or purchase. We were supposed to pursue such technologies through introducing a variety of courses in our engineering universities. The initial stage of the program was to teach students the required technology at our universities. We thought about a coordinated plan under which the final year projects were based on those technologies we were supposed to require for our infrastructure projects. We made a plan during the days of Dr. Attai-ur-Rehman and Abdul Kalam (the then Vice Chancellor of NED University) cost Rs20 crore. The Planning Commission, HEC and City Nazim agreed upon the project which could not be allowed to pass through approval. There are some people who are against the process.
Even now, it is not too late. We have to plan for our future generations as our population continues to grow in numbers. It is not difficult, as technology is progressing, so in fact. What we need is the right guy to lead the process.
ER: We need to create a complete echo system including government, industry and academia. You are involved at UIT University Karachi. Do you think the education being given in universities is enough to address the priority areas in Pakistan?
You need to establish a set of priorities. Once, we had a Planning Commission which, I think, is not here anymore and also the governments at the center are not stable. Who will be the spokesperson for the engineering community? PEC? Right people must join hands, they must lobby and speak out, keeping their individual interests at bay. Then you need financial backing like 1 to 2 million dollars for planning infrastructure through the right technologies for the future. A board should be constituted with people who work on an honorary basis. Once, we had luminaries in the country like Dr. Abdul Salam, but now we are running short of such a kind.
ER: The government has constituted a body which, as claimed, will attract US$50 billion
FDI. Is it a step in the right direction?
Why do you need FDI for everything? What we need is our young generation who should build the country. Nobody will give you money without interest. They expect something. Local infrastructure is important and needs something to attract investment. For example, like India, it has health parks where the patients have all the facilities. We have very good hospitals here which should be used for health tourism. We can invest in tourism also. We have eleven hundred kilometers of coastline where we can attract people from abroad.
We are an arid country and in the desert we need to move to arid irrigation through the use of technologies. Also, we need to introduce drip irrigation along with the introduction of new seeds. In this field we need some research. China has offered agro technologies to Pakistan. – Manzoor Shaikh

‘Failing to complete PEC towers at Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad is height of incompetence’ TEP resolves to secure approval for Engineers Service Structure Bill Core Com, EC not happy with sitting GB for ignorance over Young Engineers GB Seats Bill

on 24/10/2023

The Engineers Pakistan (TEP) led by Engr. Engr Jawed Salim Qureshi has resolved to get approval from the new National Assembly for the Engineers Service Structure Reforms Bill which sailed through the upper house of the parliament—the Senate—but failed to get the node of the lower house, dissolved by the premier this month.
TEP believed to be the wider platform of the engineers in Pakistan expressed its unhappiness that the current Governing Body of the Pakistan Engineering Council did not take the Young Engineers GB Seats Bill to the National Assembly. The council unanimously approved the bill while TEP was in power in 2018-21.
The Core-Committee and Executive Council of TEP which met in Lahore to commemorate the 76th Independence of the Country pledged to serve and make Pakistan a “Prosperous, Welfare and High Tech State“.
Members across Pakistan participated in the Hybrid meeting. Members unanimously passed the following resolutions:
TEP initiated various reforms in Pakistan to restore the pride of engineers and the engineering profession since 2015. These reforms changed the total structure of the council and engineers, which created awareness among stakeholders, especially engineers to stand for their rights under the leadership of Engr Jawed Salim Qureshi.
All participants appreciated the efforts made by TEP Engineers to get the approved Engineers Service Structure Reforms Bill from the Senate under the leadership of Senator Rukhsana Zubari.
The communications further said: It was told that they tried their level best to get approval from the National Assembly but their efforts couldn’t bring fruit.
But still, the good news is that bill is now tabled in National Assembly, TEP moot believes.
TEP will get approved by the bill from the new National Assembly of Pakistan.
All participants expressed their deep concern that the current GB did not take to the National Assembly the bill about the seats for young engineers in GB. It was unanimously approved by GB 2018-21.
TEP Moot assured young engineers that they started giving representation to young engineers and that they would accomplish it.
They condemned the height of incompetence of the current GB for not completing the PEC towers at Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad which were developed as incubation centers for young engineers and showcase the innovations of engineers for the industry.
The meeting congratulated Chairman TEP Engr. Jawed Salim Qureshi and his dedicated team for getting approval for service cadre 13 from the Senate.
Following are the “Amendments in Civil Servant Act 1973”. passed in Senate Unanimously.
Registered Engineer or Professional Engineer, as defined in PEC Act 1976, shall only be posted in any Ministry, Division, or Department under the Government dealing with subjects of Infrastructure, Energy, Water, C&W, including but not limited to Ministries of Power, Energy, Planning & Development, Railways, Housing & Works, Water Resources, Industries & Production, Information Technology & Telecommunication, Science & Technology, Aviation Division, Defense Production, Marine Affairs & Communication.
The Engineering Services of Pakistan shall be the thirteenth Group and shall be notified within three months of the coming into effect of the Civil Servant (Amendment) Act 2023.
Engr Jawed Salim Qureshi and his team have worked hard day and night to restore the pride of engineers and the engineering profession, TEP communication issued by Secretary TEP, Engr. Malik Saleem Ullah Saeed says. ‘Another milestone achieved by Senate to uphold the dignity of Engineers. It will surely contribute to the National Development and prosperity of Engineers.

Does ‘continuity’ mean no hopes for engineering sector?

on 24/10/2023

Caretaker Prime Minister An­waarul Haq Kakar said in his maiden press conference that his government would ensure continuity in the economic policies of the country. As per the face value of his statement, one can think of three outcomes. One, the roadmap designed for sailing with the IMF Program would be followed. Two, inflation as a result of the program’s conditions would remain unchecked and thus continue to screw up the lives of the common people and three; the engineering sector will continue to face hardships like it did during the 16-month stint of PM Kakar’s predecessor.
Yes, if he and his government move to improve the situation, which was the next part of his statement that the PM Office Media Wing issued, then one would see what this improvement looks like and will bring about for the country.
He said that further enhancement of foreign investment under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is among the top priorities of the caretaker set-up.
The prime minister chaired a meeting in which he was given a detailed briefing over the economic situation, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
During the meeting, the prime minister said that work on public welfare projects would continue and the government would ensure the provision of international quality facilities in the health and education sectors.
He also directed expediting ongoing reforms in the power sector and strict implementation of measures for increasing tax revenues.
Prime Minister Kakar said that the caretaker government would concentrate on deregulation and responsible autonomy for further improvement of the economy, and expressed the resolve to focus their energies on economic reform during their tenure.
Keeping the prime minister’s statement at bay, the performance of the economy for the engineering sector during the Shehbaz Sharif government remained dismal from engineers’ point of view. None of the engineering sectors showed a sign of improvement, be it construction, manufacturing or power sector, etc.
Most senior engineers say the construction industry was devastated due to high inflation and thus the associated industries took a nose dive.
A large number of public sector projects are stalled due to inflation and price hike of construction materials, says Engineer Farhat Adil, President of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan.
The federal government failed to come up with a price adjustment formula despite a series of meetings in which a comprehensive adjustment arrangement was reached. ‘The formula is stuck up with the planning commission’, he told Engineering Review. The government failed to notify it and thus the construction industry faced a severe blow. Even now, there are many projects which stand far from completion as the prices of construction materials do not match the initial plans of the projects, making them unfeasible.
Not only that, but the manufacturing sector also suffered a huge blow. The government ceased to issue permission for opening LCs and thus the industry found nothing but to face the issue of supply chain. ‘Since our industry adds value and needs imported raw material which disappeared gradually because of the ban on imports’, he said.
The crunch in Pakistan resulted in the closure of automobile units, including big names like Indus Motors and Suzuki. This sector could not garner government support, he said.
On the employment side, Engr. Farhat said the fresh engineer in Pakistan drew thirty thousand as salary which is equal to the salary of a driver. Thousands of engineers are jobless and there was no plan to put them in use for the prosperity of the country.

Pakistan oil companies collaborate with Saudi Aramco for $10bn refinery project

on 24/10/2023

Four leading Pakistani oil companies will join hands with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Aramco for a $10 billion Greenfield refinery project at Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar Port.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Pakistani and the Saudi companies in the capital, Islamabad last month, said a statement from the Ministry of Petroleum.
The Pakistani state-owned entities, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan State Oil, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL), will collaborate with Aramco through a “joint investment strategy”, the statement said, without providing further details.
The project envisions setting up an integrated refinery petrochemical complex with a crude oil processing capacity of a minimum of 300,000 barrels per day (BPD), along with a petrochemical facility in Pakistan, it added.
“The project will have significant foreign investment from world-class oil & gas giants through equity participation,” the statement further said.
Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, shared details of the project and “its benefits to the national economy by way of economic growth, foreign exchange savings, energy security, employment opportunities and social upliftment.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia inked a deal to establish an oil refinery in Pakistan’s south-western strategic port city of Gwadar, a key route of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), during Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to Islamabad in 2019.
According to experts, Saudi Arabia is mostly exporting its oil through its western ports on the Red Sea. Gwadar Port will give the Kingdom another option.
Musadik Malik says that negotiations with Saudi Arabia were at an advanced stage to execute a $10 billion green refinery project at the strategic Gwadar Port in Pakistan.
The Saudi Arabia oil firm showed a willingness to inject the initial equity into the multibillion-dollar refinery project, leading the Pakistani government to decide on a joint venture with key Pakistani state-owned companies.
PSO will inject up to 30 percent equity whereas the other state-owned companies will also contribute equity.
Aramco will inject the initial 30 percent equity into the project. He said the establishment of Greenfield Refinery will help decrease the trade deficit of the country.
Pakistan pays an $18 to $20 per barrel premium on diesel imports whereas the premium on crude oil stood at 1 to 2 dollars per barrel. This will be saving after the new mega refinery is set up in Pakistan, he says.
Musadik Malik said negotiations are underway with our friendly countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the import of cheap oil and gas to the country.
He said that UAE was also interested to join this mega refinery project.
The minister said that he had also met the president of Azerbaijan who also showed interest in this refinery project.
He said that terms and conditions would be finalized after the FID is finalized which would take around one to two years.
Regarding the government’s achievements during the past year, the minister said 138 Million Cubic Feet natural gas of worth $570 million was added to the gas system and $500 million of indigenous gas produced will soon be added. The minister said the dividends of the agreement signed with Russia for crude oil will reach the masses very soon. He said the incumbent government also resumed talks on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline project, which was shelved by the previous government, while a framework agreement was signed with Azerbaijan for LNG procurement on flexible terms.
The minister said under the agreement, Azerbaijan will offer one cargo of LNG each month and it will be up to Pakistan to either accept the cargo or not. He said there will be no financial penalty if Pakistan does not accept the cargo. He said the government will also open schools and hospitals at all the places, where projects for oil and gas exploration will be launched to facilitate the local population. Secretary Petroleum – Captain (R) Muhammad Mahmood in his opening remarks shared salient aspects of the GreenField Refinery Policy and underscored the commitment of the Petroleum Division towards the development and growth of the petroleum sector.

Artificial Intelligence: Technology of Future

on 24/10/2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing field that has the potential to transform the way we live and work. AI is already being used in many industries, from healthcare to finance to transportation, and its applications are only expected to grow in the coming years. Here are some reasons why AI is the best technology to learn for the future:
AI is one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand fields in technology. According to a report by LinkedIn, AI specialist roles are among the top emerging jobs in the technology industry. Learning AI skills can help you stand out in the job market and open up new career opportunities.
AI has applications in many different industries, so learning AI skills can prepare you for a wide range of careers. For example, AI can be used in healthcare to analyze medical images and diagnose diseases, in finance to analyze market trends and predict stock prices, and in transportation to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion.
AI is an innovative and rapidly evolving field, which means that there are always new developments and discoveries to be made. Learning AI skills can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, and can prepare you to be a part of the next wave of innovation.
AI can automate repetitive tasks and analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately, which can help businesses and organizations increase efficiency and productivity. Learning AI skills can help you contribute to these efforts and make a positive impact in your field.
AI has the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, healthcare access, and economic inequality. Learning AI skills can help you contribute to these efforts and make a positive impact on society.
Artificial intelligence is the best technology to learn for the future because of its high demand, versatility, innovation, increased efficiency and productivity, and potential to address societal challenges. Learning AI skills can prepare you for a wide range of careers, help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, and enable you to make a positive impact in your field and the world.
It is recommended for all engineers, especially fresh graduates from any field, to gain knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) as it is a rapidly growing field with many applications. There are many short courses and workshops available that teach the fundamentals of AI to engineering graduates. Examples of online AI courses include “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” on edX, “AI for Everyone” on Coursera, and “Applied AI” on edX. In-person workshops and boot camps are also available. These courses cover topics such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and often include hands-on exercises and projects to provide practical experience.