Nespak’s acting MD

on 18/03/2014

Engr. Amjad A. Khan, Senior VP has taken over the charge of Acting Managing Director NESPAK. A civil engineer, he has extensive experience of 33 years comprising corporate management, project monitoring & control, MIS, project management, resource allocation, HRD and personnel administration. According to a press release, he did his BE in Civil and Structures with honors from world renowned University of Sheffield, England.

His basic schooling is from New School Model Town, Lahore and he is an old Formanite. He has been a practicing professional engineer since 1979 and started his career with NESPAK as a Junior Engineer. As Project Manager of WB funded projects on infrastructure development, he was responsible for over all coordination for designing, construction supervision and contract administration. In NESPAK, he worked on many projects of national importance such as Tarbela Units 9 and10, Kalabagh Dam Project, Mangla Power House Units 9 and 10 and projects of Atomic Energy Commission. He belongs to a family of engineers, whose contribution to national economy in early days of independence is well recognized.

Kar-Lhr motorway okayed

on 18/03/2014

PM Nawaz Sharif has approved constructing a 3+3 lane motorway between Karachi and Hyderabad. He has also okayed motorway projects linking Pindi Bhattian with Lahore and Hasanabdal with Mansehra to be built on the basis of BOT. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, (July 20) said Lahore – Karachi motorway would be completed in three years and would serve as a parallel trade corridor.

National Highway Authority has been asked to initiate the project. In the meantime Pakistan and China have formed a task force for constructing the Silk Road connecting Xinjiang and Gwadar. The task force would meet in Islamabad in August. Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, Xu Shao, would lead the Chinese delegation at the task force meeting. And Ahsan Iqbal, who signed the agreement together with Mr Shao during Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit to China would lead Pakistan side.

The strategic project (est cost $18 b) will requiring many tunnels in Khunjerab Pass area in Gilgit Baltistan. The project needs many surveys, including seismic surveys, to be done by experts from both countries. We have to finalise the project in one year, added Ahsan Iqbal.

Bhasha Dam WAPDA seeks proposals

on 18/03/2014

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has asked three pre-qualified consortia of consultants for proposals for main works of Diamer Bhasha Dam. It is another significant development for the dam. Three pre-qualified consortia for consultancy services for project’s main works are: AECOM of United States, Mott Mac Donald Ltd of England and Lahmeyer of Germany. Apart from generating 4,500 MW of cheap hydro power, the dam will store 8.1 million acre feet of water for agriculture and tackling floods.

The dam is immensely important for country’s socio-economic development and is a priority project of federal government and WAPDA. Land acquisition, development of infrastructure in the project area and implementation of social action plan are the current activities at the site. Land is being acquired by governments of Gilgit Balitistan and Khyber while 15 contracts are being executed for constructing WAPDA offices, colonies, contractors’ camps, roads, and other infrastructure in the project area.

Here the resettlement plan has been prepared as per international guidelines. This plan includes construction of model villages for the affected and other steps for socio economic uplift of local populace. Arrange-ments are also being made to preserve pre-historic rock carvings and local cultural heritage with the help of international experts. G/o Pakistan and WAPDA are working on many options regarding financial arrangements for construction of the multi billion dollar dam.

UIT show on Aug 21

on 18/03/2014

Usman Institute of Technology (UIT) is holding Final Year Projects’ Exhibition and Job Fair Spring 2013, on Wednesday August 21 at the Institute. UIT, a part of Hamdard University, is a leading institution with diverse academic and research programs. Its dynamic faculty is dedicated to excellence. Subjects taught at UIT are:

Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunication, Computer Systems and also Computer Science at graduate and post graduate levels, says a press release. UIT is equipped with state of the art laboratories and computing facilities and offers the most conducive environment for quality education and research.

Engineering programs at UIT are conducted in a professional manner and engineers produced here have the potential to meet the challenges faced by modern industries. However, engineers graduating from here need to be introduced to the industry and R&D organizations. This can be best achieved by developing an effective interaction between industry and graduating students. This is the aim of annual Final Year Projects’ Exhibition and Job Fair.

It brings the industry and students closer. The exhibition will start at 5 PM on Wednesday August 21. UIT hopes to attract representatives of many industries spending a day with students for possible employment and seeing its R&D and academic environment. It is pertinent to mention that the exhibition and job fair provide a good platform to the industry to introduce their organizations to students.

Gobar gas to give 22MW

on 18/03/2014

Punjab and a renowned Canadian company High Mark Bio-Gas have signed a memorandum of understanding for setting up a 22 MW bio-gas power project. High Mark will set up the pilot project in six months. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed signing of this MoU. He said vast opportunities of generating energy from bio-mass and gobar gas exist in Punjab and we will fully benefit from these to minimis energy crisis.

He said there was great potential of setting up bio-gas projects in Punjab as there was no shortage of fuel for gobar gas projects. High Mark Bio-Gas Chief Executive Evan Chrapko briefed about his company and assured it will make vigorous efforts to complete the project in six months.