NED University hosts 2 international moots with IEP, others in collaboration ‘Technology Enabled Infrastructure Engineering and Management’

International Conference on Technology Enabled Infrastructure Engineering and Management (TECH-IEM) was organized by NED University in December 2023.
In Pakistan, health monitoring of the infrastructure systems and decision-making will now be conducted with the help of the Internet of Things, virtual reality, laser scanning, and drones. This was stated by
Dr. Sarosh Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED University at the two-day TECH-IEM conference Organized by NED University of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with CPEC Academic Research and Development Unit (CARDU) of Higher Education Commission, in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Pakistan Karachi Center, under its NED University Virtual Reality Center, collaborated by Neuro Computational Lab. The Conference was held at Mehmood Alam Auditorium, Ashraf Habibullah AV Hall, and Mechanical Hall. Patron-in-Chief of the Conference, Vice Chancellor of NED, Dr. Sarosh H. Lodi said that through the development of technology under the CPEC research project currently being conducted at NED, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, laser scanning, and drones will be used for health monitoring of the infrastructure system and its related decision making.
On this occasion, Pakistan’s Counselor to China for Science and Technical Affairs, Khan Muhammad Wazir highlighted the importance of technology for the construction and maintenance of vast CPEC-related infrastructure.
The keynote speaker of the conference was Dr. Naveed Anwar from the Asian Institute of Technology.
Chairman IEP Karachi Center, Engineer Sohail Bashir was guests of honor along with Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tufail and Dean CPL Prof. Dr. Asad ur Rehman. Focal Person/Co-Chair Conference Dr. Farrukh Arif emphasized the use of modern construction technologies during the construction and maintenance phase of the Infrastructure projects. Six technical sessions were conducted at the conference. Researchers from Australia, Spain, Italy, Turkiye, USA, and national experts presented their recent work on the subject of construction and technology. 28 papers were presented at the conference. In the closing session, Chairman Civil Engineering Professor Dr. Abdul Jabbar Sangi, keynote Speaker Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre from the School of Construction and Design of America, and other experts gave examples of smart maintenance and operations, laser scanning, automatic robots, drones, virtual reality, 5G and Internet of things, and how these technologies can contribute to improving the infrastructure industry, and help in increasing efficiency. They emphasized that with the help of technology in modern times, the overall construction and maintenance projects can also be improved in addition to comparing the construction performance. Conference Secretary Dr. Shamsoon Farid thanked the experts and audience at the end.
“Forewarned is Forearmed: Construction Disputes Avoidance and Resolution”,
The International Seminar on “Forewarned is Forearmed: Construction Disputes Avoidance and Resolution”, was held in Decemer 2023 too at NED University.
Over 200 professionals from the construction industry and legal fraternity participated in the seminar.
The Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) Karachi Centre, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Pakistan Branch, Asian Civil Engineering Coordination Council (ACECC) Future Leaders Forum collaborated for the program. Prof. Dr. Asad Ur Rehman Khan, Dean of Civil and Petroleum Engineering, NED University welcomed the participants. This was followed up by the address of Barrister Mian Sheraz Javed, Chairman Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Pakistan Branch.
Engr. Nasir Khan MBE, Principal a HKA, UK and Chair of Construction Industry Council UK (liability panel) made a technical presentation on “FOREWARND IS FOREARMED – Anticipating Challenges, Mitigating Risk”, while Dr. Farrukh Arif. An associate professor at NED University presented his teams’ work regarding “Practices and effectiveness on arbitration as ADR mechanism in the construction industry of Pakistan.”
The technical session was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Engr. Sohail Bashir, Chairman IEP Karachi Centre, with Barrister Mian Sheraz Javaid, Engr, Nasir Khan MBE, and Ms. Navin Merchant from Merchant Law Associates as the panelists. The panelists deliberated ways through which Construction Arbitration became a successful ADR mechanism in Pakistan.
On this occasion, Mr. Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan, Honourable Judge of Sindh High Court was the Guest of Honour, and Honourable Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Mr. Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Engr. Sohail Bashir, Chairman IEP, Karachi Centre, formally welcomed the distinguished guests and provided an overview of the objectives of the seminar. Dr. Sarosh H. Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED University in his address highlighted the efforts of NED University to provide and upgrade quality human resource capacity in the area of construction engineering law. He specifically highlighted the integration of construction law courses in Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering degrees at the undergraduate level, while providing insights into M.Engg. (Civil) Construction Engineering Law degree being offered by NED University and its impact on the profession being the only construction law program in Pakistan. In his address, Honourable Mr. Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan, stressed the efforts to improve arbitration practices, ways to strengthen the arbitration regulations, and the importance of intellectual property and professional ethics in the construction law profession.
On this occasion, an MoU was also signed between NED University and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Pakistan Branch for collaboration in education, research, and professional development in the area of Construction law with CIArb recognizing the M.Engg. The Construction Engineering Law program, being offered at NED University as its qualifying requirement for direct associate membership grade.