Poverty of ideas, Mediocrity, Killers of Engineering: Naheed Memon

on 11/07/2018

SBI chairperson believes Pakistan can never become a heavy industrial center in the region.

Chairperson Sindh Board of Investment (SBI) Naheed Memon has no qualms as to what Pakistan can realistically achieve in engineering and industrial sector.

 Also, she has guts to put her views bare at open forums like she did in an IEEEP, Karachi center moot in Karachi where she categorically said Pakistan could never become a heavy industrial regional power. “No! It’s not possible,” she said.

She raised a question if Pakistan could develop to be a light engineering, smart and trading hub. Yes, she believed and suggesting “we should utilize our energies for achieving such a goal”.

Memon who presided over a pre-event gathering of the IEEEP Karachi where some senior engineers appeared critical of Pakistan’s inability to develop local engineering base which once existed in the country. One of them recalled Pakistan used to manufacture electronic components in the 1960s besides other engineering products. They criticized the policies of successive governments which pushed the country to outsource and thus the local set up suffered in the country and eventually came to an end. Naheed Memon said the lack of skilled human resource was the biggest hurdle and also there was a dearth of ‘ideas’ in Pakistan. She believed Pakistan’s entrepreneur sector was taken over by mediocrity saying both factors stop the country from marching towards development. She does not stop here, saying she hardly meets those who want to be rich; they want to earn the money only and also lack resolve to move forward.

She said it was a misconception that no one wanted to do anything in the country and lacked interest. What we require was to rise and get rid of mediocrity. She said whatever happened in the past was due to the policies based on ad-hocism which prevented the country from local manufacturing and also no attention was paid to promote local industry.

Naheed recalled she had participated in hundreds of the moots on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which all of were of no worth and just a waste of her time. She found same mediocrity and absence of ideas there too.

She advised the IEEEP to pay attention to making their conferences and moots smart so that the participants take something worthwhile back home.

Computerized signals installed at 22 railway stations

on 10/07/2018

Pakistan Railways (PR) has replaced old mechanical signaling with Computerized Interlocking System (CBIS) at 22 railway stations to prevent accidents and ensure smooth train operation from Mirpur Mathelo to Shehdapur. “The work at the Bin Qasim Station is near to completion that will help improve the trains operations and ensure safety of passengers,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

Regarding the Shahdara-Lodhran project, he said as many as 15 railway stations had become operational after being upgraded with modern signaling system, while work on the remaining stations would be completed by the end of 2018. He said that after the completion of the project, the line capacity of Karachi to Lahore Main Line (ML-I) will increase from 36 trains to 100 per day. After the activation of new signaling system, the number of passengers in cargo trains would increase, resulting in increased revenue and better operation management, he added.
To a question, the official said that Pakistan Railways had introduced a Trains Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to prevent accidents at unmanned level crossings.
He said that five sets will be installed shortly and kept under observation after which commercial production for installing the system at the remaining level crossings will be commenced

Will not waste time on issues which cannot be resolved: Siddiq Essa

on 10/07/2018

‘Reaping benefits from

CPEC depends on our engineers’ “Essa”

President of the Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan (ACEP) Siddiq Essa is in no mood to waste time on issues which he believes cannot be resolved.

Instead, he wants to focus on strengthening the association on professional lines.

This is something he told Engineering Review in plain words. What we seriously require is brotherhood, he said. There are many issues which even the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) cannot resolve and then how can we expect ACEP to do it, he asked.

Engineer Essa talked about the tampering that has become a norm in the society where the clients play with the consultants because of their lack of professionalism. But still, there are many who have learnedto pay appropriately that adds up to the worth of their projects, he says.

But apart from local projects and their clients, who will resolve the issues rising after the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)?

“It has deeper links in the past,” he recalls. He referred to Tarbella Dam Project and Pakistan Steel Mills as the projects which according to him brought dividends for Pakistani engineers who learned a lot from them.

Senior engineers in Pakistan be they in WAPDA or elsewhere can designs dams and execute huge projects because of the experience they got from foreigners due to such projects. “They brought jobs and technical skills”, he said.

Does CPEC bring the same? It depends who takes decisions and signs for Pakistan, he replied. We must safeguard our national interestat all costs as the benefit usually goes to those who bring money.

CPEC would create many projects like other huge projects in Pakistan in the past. It will open new avenues and opportunities which our engineer should avail in Pakistan.

Alongwith these issues, Engineer Essa is set at strengthening ACEP which he says has presently 110 members and they need to increase the number of members. But it seems a gigantic task as Mr. Essa is heard as even receiving subscription fees from the members is no easy job. They don’t even give fees without “Danda” (force), he says.

But still, Engineer Siddiq Essa has many plans which he wants to execute. One is imparting technical trainings so that the people at project sites should be strong technically. “We need to arrange such training. We may request Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to make two-year training mandatory for license holders”, he suggested adding they would also talk to NED University as well.

Engineer Essa is also the vice president of ACIP and he wants to use it too for technical trainings in Pakistan.

When asked if Pakistani consulting companies and engineers are still exporting their services abroad, he replied they do. The Arab countries have gone too ahead and usually engage European and American consultants for their projects. However, African countries and some others in Asia including Malaysia still hire Pakistani engineering companies and services.

Engineer Essa’s company has many good projects on its credit.At present, his work has slowed down as the apex court of Pakistan has put on hold the construction of high rise buildings in Karachi. He revealed that the people were opting for other provinces after the ban.

We need systems like PTS for making projects economical: Saleem Khan

on 10/07/2018

Talking to Engineering Review, Mr. Khan said: We established Titanium Engineering in 2014 although we were working since 2009. The company is involved in construction mostly in post tension system and also working in the field of structuring. By the grace of God, we have projects all around Pakistan.
What is post tension system? Would you like to elaborate it?
Basically, it is the most modern system in RCC or structure. It balances the load in the structure as there remain deflections in the RCC. It controls deflection and stresses and thus turns it cost effective. It gives it a long life making it feasible.
Since it is a new technology, how do the consultants respond to it?
Initially, it was a bit difficult to introduce it although they all knew it and studied in the universities. But it was not in practice. Practically, it was ignored. When we launched it, they looked at hesitantly but with the passage of time, they got used it. Once the confidence of consultants bolstered, they started responding it.
What about the behavior of client and contractor towards this system?
Clients mostly follow their consultants and they see it as feasible. Thus, clients response is very good. However, the contractors sometimes feel it is a hurdle. They sometimes feel its interference in their work. But those who understand the system, they adopt it.
What services does your company offer to the client?
We offer post tension design, accessories and also installation. We also provide stability certificate so that they get satisfied with the work that our company has done.
Are you supported by some foreign principal too?
Yes, we are affiliated with a US-based company CPH. We hold workshops with them every year in the US and thus update our experts.
How do you see the future of post tension system in Pakistan?
I think the way our consultants are adopting this system, I believe it is well introduced here like developed countries in the world. Since Pakistan is a growing country we need such systems which are economical. I believe it will contribute to our economy.
Would this system be restricted to huge projects or can be used and be adopted in smaller projects?
Yes surely! Currently, it is being used from 200 yards house to huge projects such as bridges. We are working on 200 to 400 yards projects in DHA through this system.
Would you like to share with us the projects that you think have added to credibility?
Yes, they include one in Clifton Block – I namely Elegant Residence, the other one on Tariq Road near Allahwala roundabout, a shopping center in Islamabad and others which have attracted clients.
CPEC
How do you see CPEC for engineers and systems you deal in?
It is future not only for engineers but also for whole Pakistan. It will bring about a huge change in Pakistan and also in the countries connected to it. The more construction will take place the more post tension system will be adopted. So it also benefits consultants too.
There has a been a boom of engineering universities in Pakistan. Do you think they are producing useful engineers?
We should categorize engineers coming from these institutions. Some are good and some are average but I think we often fail to utilize them properly. Some are good at the site and some in design but we mixed them up overlooking their capability. It is up to consultants how they read their capabilities and utilize them properly. We should analyze engineers who to join in which field because they can serve in each and every industry. Engineers should be guided by consultants.
What are your future plans?
At present we are working in post tension systems. We want to bring innovation so that we support our country. Also, we want to demonstrate our expertise in the country where we imported it from. With this aim, we launched a company in the US in November 2017 so that we do programs there. It is not linked with our affiliation with CPH.
Now, Titanium Engineering US Inc. is established there. We are sure we shall be successful.
Do you see any hope as regards local manufacturing of items that you imported here?
Yes, it is there. At present post-tension system is in its introduction phase. But when it reaches massive scale, it would be possible and feasible because by that time we shall have a local consumption market. I see manufacturing in next few years.

The Imperial Electric Company (Pvt) Ltd.

on 10/07/2018

IEC was established in 1931. Since then, it has provided its clients with World-class products and services.

It has the reputation of a trustworthy company run by qualified and trained professionals.

It is offering complete turnkey solutions to its clients including conceptual design, detailed design, products and material specifications, procurement and logistics, installation, testing /commissioning, customer trainings, and after sales support.

IEC is an ISO 9000 certified company, and is supported with SAP ERP management system

IEC represents top of the lines Products and systems from US, Western Europe and Japan, including;

Schneider Electric

ADB-Safegate

Axa-Power

JBT Aero Tech

Cavotec

GE

Leoni

Daifuku BCS

Thales

It specializes in; Power Generation( A leading OEM of Diesel Generating sets from 5kVA to 1250kVA with world renowned Engines and alternators

Power distribution

Airport Equipment and systems

Navigation Equipment

Lamps and Luminaries

Imperial group consists of EMCO Industries, Imperial Construction Company (Pvt) Ltd, Imperial soft (Pvt ) Ltd, and Arabian Electric Transmission Line Construction Co.

It’s clients include, Govt., Semi Govt., Defense and Private organizations.

IEC’s Head Office is located in Lahore, and has branch offices in all of the major cities.