MoU signed to establish NED Campus in Thar SECMC, NED University, TCF join hands

on 09/10/2019

In pursuance of the announcement by the Government of Sindh, a NED University campus under the name of Thar Institute of Engineering, Sciences, and Technology (TIEST) is being set up in Islamkot, Tharparkar, which will start its Bachelors of Computer Science program from this year.
In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between NED, SECMC and The Citizen Foundation (TCF) to commence classes at Thar Institute of Engineering, Sciences, and Technology (TIEST) from this year.
The TIEST will initially be established at the TCF-Engro Campus Islamkot, district Tharparkar, till the permanent, purpose-built campus is constructed near Islamkot.
The construction of the Thar Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology is being financed by the Government of Sindh.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SECMC, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, Registrar of NED University of Engineering & Technology, Syed Ghazanfer Hussain and Syed Asaad Ayub Ahmad, President and CEO of TCF signed the agreement. SECMC would assist, support and facilitate NEDUET in developing its constituent college TIEST by providing local expertise needed for the initial work of the campus while TCF will provide space in the existing school at Islamkot.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO SECMC, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi said that establishing a campus of NED—one of the most prestigious engineering universities in Pakistan—in Thar is indeed a great accomplishment which will benefit the talented youth of the region, particularly Tharparkar and adjoining districts.
Government of Sindh is already providing great support in this cause, while Engro & the other partners in SECMC will continue to fulfill the dream of “Thar Badle ga Pakistan” (Thar Will Change Pakistan),” he said.
Dr. Sarosh Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED was of the view that they feel privileged to provide state-of-the-art higher education services in a remote area of Tharparkar at NED Islamkot Campus.
Syed Asaad Ayub Ahmad of TCF said that they are already serving the Thar region, providing quality education services in Mithi, Islamkot and near Thar Block-II. “Playing its part to further serve the area by sharing a space for the university campus is an honor for TCF and we reaffirm our commitment to uplift the underprivileged area of Tharparkar,” he said. — PR

CRBC, Mardan chamber talks about Rashkai Economic Zone

on 09/10/2019

CRBC – A delegation of representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) visited Mardan chamber of commerce and industry (MCCI), said a press statement.
The delegation included Chief Commercial Officer Sam Lee, Marketing Assistant Manager Sao Bin Xing and KP Azimk. The delegation met with MCCI President Zahir Shah.
Representatives termed the Rashkai Economic Zone as the important milestone for the development and prosperity of the province and said that this project would bring a new phase of development in the area. MCCI president Zahir Shah informs the delegation that it is a great tragedy that there is lack of links of industrialists and traders with KP.
He told the delegation that due to this reason the industrialists and traders are unaware of this great project and emphasised that more information should be provided to the industrialists so that the industrialists can get benefit from the project. Zahir Shah further added that the prices of the plots available in the economic zone are too high and due to this reason the acquisition of plot is difficult and impossible for industrialists

NEPRA Begins Looking Into K-Electric, HESCO Issues

on 23/09/2019

Deaths of at least 20 people and prolonged power breakdowns in Sindh especially in its two major cities of Karachi during heavy downpour have created a severe pressure. This has led the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to look into the issues of two power utilities such as K-Electric and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), reports suggest.
NEPRA decided to send a fact-finding team to Karachi and Hyderabad for enquiring and thus filling a report on power supply failure and unfortunate electrocution of the people including children. The team comprised of 4 members.
NEPRA spokesman told journalists that the team would start it working from Saturday (August 3) and visit K-Electric and state-run HESCO and would investigate to know the factual position.
The Police has registered an FIR against K-Electric’s administration over electrocution of a man to death in recent rains at the provincial metropolitan. A 30year-old Saad Ahmed was electrocuted in Paposh Nagar on July 29.
Also, Nepra took notice of power outages and human losses due to electrocution in the Karachi and sought a report on it. “It is disturbing to note that the KE complaint centers were not responding to telephonic calls of consumers and therefore Nepra has directed KE to submit a report about the failure of its pre-emptive measures as the rain was expected,” says a notice by the authority. Nepra has also directed KE to take remedial measures for restoration of power supply at the earliest”. Responding to the Nepra notice K-Electric started the process of declaring force majeure from July 29 onward due to its inability to meet performance standards and contractual obligations because of circumstances beyond its control. In its reply to the power regulator K-Electric said that Rule 10 of the Nepra Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005 allows the company for taking such a step of declaring force majeure. The company said to submit a detailed report along with force majeure request within 14 days as allowed under Rule 10(3) of the Nepra rules.

ENERCON– Career Counseling Workshop

on 23/09/2019

ENERCON – Engineering universities and educational institutes are producing hundreds of engineers every year, but unfortunately in the academic life of engineering students there is no prime attention is given on their professional training, i.e. young engineer who is a fresh graduate does not know that after graduating in what field he/she will be working, either will be working on research work, fieldwork, production, planning or technical sales etc. It is very important for a student to be well aware of different sub fields under his engineering discipline and compare his/her own skills most suitable for the relevant field or develop his skills according to the requirement of that particular field. Those who have done this activity at beginning of their career will peruse right profession and achieve professional excellence much earlier.
ENERCON identifies this requirement and organized a professional training workshop for the fresh graduate students and those students who are in final year of their engineering program. Mr. Imran Zafar, Country Manager ENERCON Systems conducted this class and guided them that what job fields are available for engineers in industries and what are demands of these jobs with respect to skills & expertise. Students participated with great interest and acknowledge that their vision has broadened after attending this seminar.After the class Mr. Imran Zafar talked to Engineering Review and explained the importance of career counseling of young engineers. He said,
“We identified that there are two things which are missing from the market, firstly students are unable to identify their skills and expertise and secondly they don’t know that what opportunities are present for them in market. Consequently, they are not able to tap the opportunities and also employers do not find the right candidate in time. I hope ,after this workshop students wouldanalyze their skillswith the available opportunities and now they are having a clear understanding that which is suitable according to their skills or which skill they need to improve to pursue any particular field of interest. Initially our trainings are focusing on Electrical, Electronics & Industrial Automation sector but we will look forward to collaborateprofessionals of different engineering & non engineering but related sectors to share their knowledge with the students in order to produce better engineers for industry. Many engineering events are organized every year, but they mainly cover technical topics that are definitely beneficial in terms of knowledge but highlighting areas with industrial demands / available jobs are missing which are very relevant for student’s practical life, so through this platform we have tried to explain the students that these are the industries and these are the opportunities, now it is up to the students that what opportunity they choose related to their skills& how they polish their skills, students & professional can follow our page facebook.com/Enerconsystems/ to get details about upcoming courses.”
This is really a good and unique initiative that will help young engineers to open their minds and think about their future without any confusion. These types of workshops should be arranged continuously and it should cover all the sectors, not only for engineering but also for other domains.
Scan the QR Code given below to watch Imran Zafar’s full interview.

Engineers’ Movement Gains Momentum

on 23/09/2019

Engineers – These people are among the lot who do the most arduous jobs in Pakistan be they constructing dams, motorways, designing housing schemes, running and maintaining industries, providing IT solutions and resolving issues through technological means and ways. Their effort is spread down to designing local water supply and drainage schemes in our cities across the country.
Of them, these are Balochistan engineers! You will probably ask then why they are being seen behind the bars if they are so useful for Pakistan.
Maybe, Balochistan’s provincial government feels enough is enough as they have set up their camp for over two weeks now in the provincial metropolis and demanding an allowance which they call technical allowance which, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, their fellow engineers have started getting along with salaries.
Quetta has been one of Pakistan’s most unsafe cities where violence and terrorism have shattered the society but the authorities prefer to keep mum if the powerful demonstrate their power here.
But this is a different case! These engineers work with government departments and are struggling for their just demand—only 1.5 times of their basic pay scales. They landed in lockups because they are not that powerful than those who took over the city just a few days ago.
Swift intervention got Balochistan engineers out of lockups but the demand remains.
Engineers in Balochistan are not alone in their demand for technical allowance.
In Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, hundreds of their fellow engineers took to the roads and staged a sit-in in front of Karachi Press Club. Sindh Association of Government Engineers (SAGE) had called for the demonstration and Pakistan’s engineering regulating body, Pakistan Engineering Council was well onboard.
In Pakistani engineers, be they in Quetta, Karachi or Lahore Engr. Qureshi is the driving force behind this struggle going on for a few months now. Engr. Jawed Salim Qureshi who won the contest for the second consecutive stint in office just a year ago believes only engineers can develop the nation. And for that engineers must be given what he claims they deserve.
Salim has a comprehensive plan for Pakistani engineers that he had floated during his election campaign. He wants the rightful stature for engineers so that they can be the decision-makers. But the biggest hurdle he finds is Pakistan’s deep-rooted powerful bureaucracy which refuses to create a space for engineers. Even the issue of technical allowance that lingers on in two provinces of Sindh and Balochistan is still unresolved for provincial bureaucrats. “The bureaucracy has hostaged engineers. We shall not allow non-engineers on the posts of professional engineers”, he resolved in front of Karachi Press Club.
Pakistani engineers have a host of issues to face. Thousands are jobless given Pakistan’s poor state of the economy, slowest growth rates and rampant corruption in engineering sectors have squeezed the opportunities for Pakistan engineers.
But Salim has launched a fresh move to create jobs for young engineers. He has a huge number of contractors registered with his council and each of the contractors is required to hire certified engineers on their projects. But they just flout the law and purchase engineers’ certificates merely to meet the requirement. He seems serious to put this longtime bad practice to an end. He would not stop here!
“Before elections we had worked out on Tec Construction Bank and the people would say how can we do it without money. I say it is not the money but your commitment which makes the ways”, he said while talking to ER.
Bringing engineers at par with Pakistan’s bureaucracy through making a service structure is a gigantic task. Can he do it alone? Taking former chiefs of Pakistan Engineering Council on board speaks loud about it.
Engineer Salim has attempted to create a consensus in Pakistan engineering Council which was a divided house but now seems to be consolidating into a platform where engineers’ groups are ready to cooperate with, at least Salim’s common agenda