Why Engineers Must Be Appointed to Engineering Positions Under the PEC Act
by: Dr. Basharat Hasan Bashir
Engineering is more than just drawing plans and doing math. It’s about building the future, protecting lives, and sustaining our planet.
That’s why the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Act makes appointing only registered engineers to engineering roles mandatory. Legal Compliance is Mandatory The PEC Act of 1976 clearly states that only PEC-registered engineers can be appointed to engineering roles in both the public and private sectors. This includes think tanks, NGOs, INGOs, and international organizations working in Pakistan. Violating this is not just unethical — it’s illegal. The Supreme Court has given several rulings in this regard. Technical Expertise Can’t Be Replaced Engineering decisions — whether it’s about infrastructure, water supply, waste management, climate change, or energy — have direct consequences on public safety and sustainability. Appointing non-engineers leads to flawed designs, poor implementation, and even disasters. Climate Change Needs Environmental EngineersAs climate threats grow, the role of environmental engineers becomes even more critical in climate change mitigation and adaptation. They are trained to design low-carbon systems, develop circular economies, and build resilient communities. Appointing unqualified personnel here is a recipe for failure and disaster, both technically and morally. Code of Ethics & Accountability PEC-registered engineers must follow a professional code of conduct. If they fail, they are held accountable. Can you say the same for unqualified appointees? Consequences of Appointing Non-Engineers Design failures Unsafe structures Misuse of public funds No one to hold accountable that really a risk we want to take? Immediate Action Required We must not let connections, influence, or administrative shortcuts override merit and expertise. If we are serious about safety, sustainability, and national development, then qualified engineers — and especially environmental engineers — must be appointed to engineering positions under the PEC Act. (Taken from the author’s LinkedIn account)
