Want to know if CPEC is a game changer?

on 10/07/2018

Dr. S.M. Shahid Alam sets criterion for Pakistan’s one of the most FAQs, CPEC.

Is China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a game changer? A frequently asked question (FAQ) which is intelligently replied rather ducked by a senior engineer Dr. S.M. Shahid Alam Chief Executive who heads Exponent Engineers Pvt, Ltd. saying we need to look at our society where the answer to this question is visible.

Is there any prevalence of skills in the people, is technology transfer taking place and are our consultants and contractors heavily involved in the projects? This is a criterion which explains whether CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan, he says.

When there is a boom in any country, there appears a transformation in the society as it happened in Malaysia. Each and every section of the society is geared up and thus it hugely bolsters the economy. My question is if it happened in Pakistan with the CPEC?

Dr. Shahid said the engineers just execute the projects and are tiny tools in a large machine. What CPEC has brought to Pakistan is something only the policymakers know.

Initiatives like CPEC are widely debated in other countries where all stakeholders and engineers are ought to get in touch through consultative mechanisms so that the technical feasibility is determined. Here we don’t see any such exercise, he said.

When asked if the Pakistan Engineering Council had any role in CPEC? Was the council consulted in this respect, he asked. I don’t know if it was.

Dr. Shahid is sure that local contractors cannot be part of the process because of the unavailability of a trained human resource, technology, and financial resources.

But the question is why we don’t see any pressure in the society for corrections. The policymakers might be busy somewhere else! Visibly critical, Dr. Shahid said they {the policymakers} have many other great jobs to deal with.

He said good decisions appear in the country with a good education system and justice only. Then, jobs would be done without greed and selfishness.

Consultants

They are in a survival mode. Those who walk along with the system are happy and those not are struggling.

The members of the Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan (ACEP) are busy in their projects and thus many issues are to be resolved.

Pakistan Academy of Engineers

This academy is the brainchild of Dr. Jamil Ahmed Khan. We work for it voluntarily and spreading knowledge as regards new innovations in the world of engineering and bring under discussion brand new topics.

We wish the governments should make us {the engineers} part and parcel of the consultative process for engineering initiatives and don’t expect any financial gains. We can be a valued input to the policy makers and thus the gap between them and engineers would be bridged too.

G.R Mirza launches ‘A 100 CORS’

on 10/07/2018

A FOIF product which will revolutionize surveys and bring accuracy in Pakistan, Mirza

Employing his vast experience in surveying equipment in Pakistan, G.R Mirza has launched a new GPS-based technology for accurate and cost-effective surreys.

This is called Comprehensive Operating Reference Station (CORS) system which, as its features speak out, can bring a revolution in the country where a huge number projects are underway under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

‘A 100 CORS’ is a FOIF product which connects for data acquisition through a Sim and serves round the clock for companies involved in surveying and construction projects.

It is composed of choke a choke ring antenna, a FOIF A100 CORS receiver, and a GNSS Receiver.

It has a flexible CORS GNSS Receiver and multi data file formats and is compatible with other brands of CORS Systems.

G.R Mirza tells ER you need a desktop computer with 2/9 pin serial ports and UPS for a backup supply.

This system is a must for land surveying, GIS, deformation, agriculture, and forestry.

G.R Mirza said a single/multiple CORS can be established as for as 1000kms and data can be transferred through internet connections and rovers can work anywhere.

By this technique, we obtain 8000-10000 points per day which were never possible with conventional methods like total stations.

This technique is very useful in making contours, topographic surveys of long tracks, pipelines etc.

Advantages of GPS surveys

Three-dimensional coordinates are obtained with high accuracy. Sites inter-visibility is not needed and it can be easily operated day and night. It processes data rapidly and with high precision.

A presentation by G.R Mirza and Company claims it is much less labor-intensive and very few skilled personnel can accomplish the job.

Yet another advantage is that the companies can use the system already installed with G.R Mirza and they can get data on their respective destinations.

He says a GPS receiver must acquire signals from at least four satellites to reliably calculate a three-dimensional position. Ideally, these satellites should be distributed across the sky. The GPS receiver knows where each satellite is the instant its distance is measured. This position is displayed on the data logger and saved along with any other descriptive information entered in the field software.

Secco Pak distinguishes itself in construction, Engineering Industry

on 10/07/2018

Secco Pak (Pvt.) Limited has developed to be leading manufacturers of powder coated galvanized steel doors, windows, and prefabricated/engineered buildings.
Based in Lahore Pakistan, the company was established in 1993 serves construction/engineering industries. Secco has earned a good reputation for quality and performance.
Apart from supplies to general building and construction industry, Secco Doors and buildings are approved for the hygienic requirements of Pharmaceutical Industry and Hospitals.
It is the only company in Pakistan which manufactures Fire Doors, meeting international standards and is also verified by PCSIR. The company—the only one in Pakistan—has in-house facility to test fire doors.
Secco products and services are being exemplified in various prestigious projects by many consultants all over Pakistan.
For Details.
www.seccopak.com

Furnishing details may kill concerns about CPEC

on 10/07/2018

Modus operandi to appoint consultants badly affects the quality of work: Engr. Sohail Bashir, CPEC

Chief operating officer of SAITA Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. Engr. Sohail Bashir believes concerns about China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) may die down if a comprehensive data of this initiative is made public.
“There should be complete details about which project is being executed under what head and who is financing the project and under what conditions.” Engr. Bashir said in an interview with Engineering Review.
There are two parts of projects being executed in Pakistan and both are considered to be under the umbrella of CPEC. One is being done by FWO and the other is being executed by Chinese. Since they are not clearly demarcated as far as general perception is concerned, there always remain doubts, he said.
We Pakistanis happen to be open-hearted and usually don’t look at things in entirety. This initiative should have been a win-win situation. The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) laws call for forming joint ventures in case of foreign-funded projects but the Chinese companies were given exemptions. Thus, neither the process of technology transfer took place like it happened in the past nor did Pakistani companies secured engineering works and jobs.
Consultants & the quality of works
The modus operandi to appoint consultants in Pakistan is perilous which badly affects the quality of work. The consultants get qualified technically with an ease. When it comes to the financial side, they bid very low in an attempt to secure the job. Thus, the quality of work with such low bids becomes impossible. Also, they compromise on the quality for saving consultancy fees and for looking after vested interest.
Profits, Engr. Bashir believed, came from project management which is least focused in Pakistan so that the projects should not encounter cost overruns and be completed in time.
Mecca Accord
Engr. Sohail Bashir who is also the head of international Affairs wing of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) revealed that Pakistan was helping brotherly Muslim country Bangladesh for entering into Washington Accord.
This effort is the part of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries, of which only Malaysia and Pakistan have signed Washington Accord. However, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shares the accord through individual accreditations by its various engineering institutions.
International conferences
The institution has three international engineering conferences on civil, mechanical and electrical engineering as its continuous annual feature. Our partners also participate in these moots which consolidate our linkage in this region and the world as well.
IEP scope
Dissemination of engineering information, innovations and new technologies are our prime object. The institution also plays a kind of advisory role for the governments. We have think tanks of engineers in various sectors which share technical papers and reports with the policymakers.
When asked if the institution is thinking to widen its scope like the IEEEP intends for lobbying with the policymakers, he said they don’t as it would alienate the institution in the region. All charters of such institutions simulate in the region, he revealed. It was taken from British institution’s charter which, with minor changes, was adopted by Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore and now by others in the region

Jubilee Corporation wins Brand of the Year Award 2017

on 10/07/2018

Jubilee Corporation

“Embrace the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” George S. Patton

Jubilee Corporation, a leading engineering organization that brings electrical, electronics, instrumentation and automation & control technology products from world renowned brands to Pakistani market, has been conferred with ‘ Brand of the Year Award 2017’  by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce Industry, for two of their core brands, Terasaki and Pogliano, in the respective categories of Switchgear and Busways systems.

“Brands of the Year Award” is a one-of-its kind hallmark for brands recognized as champions in their industry, based on current year market standing and consumer preference. It honors only that single brand in each category every year which dominantly led through all the levels of selection criteria.

The Company since its inception has been highly focused on bringing advance solutions to the emerging needs of market. Working since 1962, Jubilee Corporation now has a portfolio of more than 35 renowned international brands and works as their sole distributor and partner.

Terasaki – Japan has been Jubilee’s flagship brand from 1976 to present.  Since then the Company has been introducing and supplying a wide range of Terasaki products that includes ACBs (Air Circuit Breakers), MCCBs (Moulded Case Circuit Breakers), MCBs (Miniature circuit breakers), ELCBs (Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers), RCBOS, Motor Protection Circuit Breakers & Contactors and Overload Relays to Pakistani market.

Pogliano-Italy, one of the pioneers in busways systems, due to its complete range, superior features and fast delivery of Insulated Busbars has made Jubilee Corporation capable of executing a number of high profile Projects across Pakistan in sectors such as Commercial Centers, Skyscrapers, Textile, Poultry Feed Mills, Oil & Gas plants and tall buildings.

The prestigious recognition for Terasaki & Pogliano is testament to the strength of Jubilee Corporation and its position as a market leader in Electrical technology and automation.