The Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries (FEIIC) approved and thus inaugurated ‘Engineers Register’ in its executive committee held in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last month.
A member of the EC of the federation Engr. Sohail Bashir said the register would be confirmed very soon now.
The Council of the federation at its 32nd FEIIC Council Meeting in Makkah on January 8, 201, had agreed to the formation of the FEIIC Engineers Register (FER) for qualified Professional Engineers.
FER is benchmarked against similar Professional Engineer Registrations at the international level. An engineer applying for registration under FER shall have qualified and obtained a Professional Engineer (PEng) qualification in their respective jurisdictions which is of equivalent professional standard as the FEIIC Makkah Accord or the International Professional Engineers Agreement (IPEA) in the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) or the Euro Engineer of FEANI in Europe.
Chairman IEP Karachi Chapter, Engr Sohail Bashir told Enginering Review that the register was aimed at facilitating the mobility of engineers in member countries.
Now they require no registration in any country if they want to launch consultancy services or seek employment. This is like the International Register and is limited to Islamic countries.
The meeting also moved on to the capacity building of engineers in member countries under the Madina Accord which is pertaining to accreditation in Islamic Countries.
Malaysian Society of Engineering, Science and Technology will be the custodian of the register and also the society will be responsible to maintain it.
During the session, Engr Bashir said a number of engineers were registered as founding members which include 10 to 12 Pakistani engineers. They include Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), IEP Chairman, Secretary General, Vice Chairman, Chairman IEP Karachi Center, Vice Chancellor NED University and others.
The federation had also scheduled a workshop under the Engineering Qualification, Accreditation and Professional Systems (EQAPS) project which is meant to enhance the capacity in the Muslim countries so as to meet the requirements of the education for Washington Accord.
Since Washington Accord is expensive and not every Muslim country can afford it, FEIIC has taken this responsibility to build capacity at affordable rates.
After Engineers Register, the engineers from other Muslim countries need not to register with the engineering regulatory body of the host country. However, the work permit would be required anyway.

What is the difference between Fahd K. Chinoy as Deputy Chief and Fahd as Chief of Pakistan Cables?
The difference is that there is more responsibility now. Since Pakistan Cables is a credible name, there are expectations all around; from customers, stakeholders as well as employees.
This new responsibility is quite a big one but given the kind of our background and footprint, it is not a daunting responsibility. This is an exciting opportunity. I think the potential in Pakistan and the potential in Pakistan Cables make the best combination.
The company is in my DNA and I understand it and also different disciplines very well how they apply in the company. I think this is an opportunity to apply things in consonance with the view that I have developed over the years here. Overall I think this is a good challenge and I am ready to accept it for exploiting positive gains.
The idea of e-store that Pakistan Cables has launched now was one among those which you had in mind in the past or is it a new one?
When you are not the boss, then you freely express your opinions as to what should be done and you assume taking decisions for the boss may be easy but, in fact, the impact of each and every decision is to be analyzed from multiple angles. Decision-making is easier looking at it outside than the inside. I used to think multiple things should be done but practically it is not so easy as the boss.
I was thinking about the e-store for around two years while observing the kind of maturity as regards the internet and mobile penetration on rise with 60 to 70 million users in the country. Thus, digital economy is developing. Also, I was feeling that the customers wished to develop a direct touch point with the company. For our customers we are here for everything and with all support but there are people, who build their homes, roam around the market for finding wire for installation. We had a huge response when we logged on to social media and people were asking questions and seeking information as regards the availability of our products and ways and means to get them. We were surprised how our following grew rapidly on social media. The pace of inquiries we were receiving unveiled very soon a fact that a direct touch point with the customers is missing for their convenience.
The benefits of e-store are multiple. One that sometimes the customer doubts if the product is available when he will visit the market. Then, being in the market the customer is influenced to go for another product. Thus, we want the people who are serious to buy our product must have a point to buy the product directly from us. This is also convenient for them as they receive the delivery at their doorsteps. Lastly, they need not worry about the brand and trust that it is a genuine product.
I think this will grow in the future as we moved on the basis of the response that we got and we realized the requirement. But still, I put it on record that our dealers’ network is the most significant for us. They have played a part in our growth and their number now stands at over 700 all over Pakistan. We have the widest nation-wide footprint and are available in almost every city in the country. We would continue investing in them. E-store does not mean affecting the old channel {dealers’ network} in any way after opening new one. We think both channels can coexist easily and one can see in many countries where multiple channels coexist widening the market of the products. The companies have their flagship stores, e-stores, dealers and their online services and all are functioning in parallel to each other.
How about the government’s e-commerce policy? Does it support e-commerce initiatives in Pakistan?
I appreciate government policy that the government recognizes this area which can be significant for the economy. There are many progressive initiatives that I am appreciative of. As far as the digital side is concerned, I think there is a lot of capacity. We are at the initial stage we see the economy around us being changed completely. I think the government’s step of digitalizing the economy is a huge step.

Mr. Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner along with Ms. Sumera Naveed, Senior Trade Manager, visited NESPAK House, Lahore.
Dr. Tahir Masood, Managing Director NESPAK, welcomed the honorable guests. On this occasion, MD NESPAK gave a corporate presentation to the British High Commissioner. He highlighted NESPAK achievements with special emphasis on projects in hand. The MD also explained the working of NESPAK, human resources, projects, and financial status as well as its expertise regarding various engineering fields. NESPAK senior professionals also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, a discussion was held on future collaboration between UK’s Engineering Companies and NESPAK. Public-Private Partnership projects, as well as future investment by UK companies in Pakistan, was also discussed. The British envoy lauded NESPAK services in the field of engineering consultancy. With the cooperation of British High Commission, NESPAK can target the UK market by developing links with UK companies. This mutual arrangement is likely to herald new business opportunities for NESPAK in Pakistan and the European marke

President of Institution Engineers Pakistan (IEP) Engr. Jawed Uppal’s presence in IEP Karachi chapter’s program last month was a good sign. He as he said felt very happy being in Karachi with the engineers leading institution’s Karachi chapter. ‘Karachi chapter has always been active and he feels very good being here, ‘ he said while talking to Engineering Review.
‘I appreciate the activities and I am here for the reason as to what else can be done,’ he said. We have to deliver for our engineers, work for their development and it is our top priority.
He said they were trying to understand today’s’ job requirements. There are many job opinings under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other infrastructure projects and there were some specific requirements. ‘We want our training should be in line with such requirements of our industry.’
Engineer Uppal was of the view that Pakistan was passing a very difficult time thus the engineers have to explore how professional engineers should play their part. They have to be out of their offices, to be on roads so that they become helping hands in the development of the country. ‘We cannot afford antagonism anymore’, he says.
As regards the collective efforts of IEP, Engr Uppal said they required to follow the rules of the game and there were a lot of avenues for improvements. ‘For instance, we have to be service-oriented. We have to rescue ourselves from the past when we were living as a club. We have to get out of such atmosphere and become service-oriented.
He says the young engineers should be fully trained so that they perform well and bring good name to the country.
Do you think the beginning has been made for collective efforts?
Yes, I think so. It’s been a year since I am in the office. During the initial months the colors were different; It is like red becomes yellow and then green. We pray for traveling along with each other and we shall do it InshaAllah.
How about the activities of IEP chapters in Punjab?
Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad have been more active chapters in comparison to Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Quetta. At present, most of the activities are around continuous professional development and it is good sign.
In Lahore, we have started an Internship Program and we are getting internees from UET, GIK and other universities. I think such programs should be replicated in other chapters also.
Are our policies benefitting our engineers and engineering industry in the second phase of CPEC?
I have been looking into it and I believe the professional requirements for engineers in CPEC are specific and we have to go in line with such demand. CPEC is a big opening for engineers as a number 19 industrial zones are being set up in the country. It is up to engineers whether they can be competent as required under the CPEC. At present our engineers are deficient in some areas and we must admit it and work to remove them