PAKISTAN
By Manzoor Shaikh
The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has found itself at the center of a governance controversy, as Senior Vice Chairman has accused Chairman Engr. Waseem Nazir of consistently violating the PEC Act and Bye-laws through unilateral and unauthorized decisions. In a strongly worded letter, the Vice Chairman warned the Chairman that his latest office order dated June 28, 2025 — involving the appointment of several officers in the PEC Secretariat — was illegal and issued without the approval of the Governing Body.
According to the letter, this action breaches Clauses 3(A)(1), 9(1) of the PEC Act 1976 (as amended), and Clause 49 of the PEC Bye-laws 1976, all of which vest executive powers in the Governing Body, not the Chairman alone. The letter further alleges that newly created posts such as Technical Advisor (Operations) and Technical Advisor (Regulation) do not exist within the PEC’s legal framework.
The Vice Chairman also accused the Chairman of withholding key information from the Governing Body, entering secret agreements, and overriding the 52nd Governing Body meeting. The letter ends with a stern warning to halt these “blatant violations” and avoid further institutional and legal disaster for PEC.
Here is is the letter of Dr. Sarosh Lodi to Chiarman PEC Engr. Waseem NAzir.
“Dear Engr. Waseem Nazeer,
I came to know about yet another illegal decision that you have undertaken vide office order no. PEC/HR/058/02/2025 dated June 28, 2025 regarding placement of several officers in the PEC Secretariat. This order was issued only a day after the 52nd Governing Body meeting. You, in your usual manner, are making illegal decisions without paying any heed to the Act and the Byelaws. Even though I am confident that in your usual manner you would not pay any attention my legal advice but I still feel it is my utmost responsibility as Senior Vice Chairman of PEC, as a person having more than 25 years of serving in different administrative positions of the Government, heading a leading engineering institution for eight years and having served in the Governing Body of PEC for six years earlier, to point out that this order is in violation of Clauses 3(A)(1), 9(1) of PEC Act 1976 as amended and Clause 49 of Pakistan Engineering Council Bye-laws, 1976.
Clauses 3(A)(1) and 9(1) of the PE Act mentioned above are reproduced below for ready reference.
3A. Executive powers of the Council. — (1) The general direction and administration of the Council and its affairs shall vest in the Governing Body which may exercise all powers and do all acts and things that may be exercised or done by the Council.
9. Governing Body.— (1) There shall be a Governing Body which shall be the principal executive authority of the Council for supervising and governing the affairs and functions assigned to the Council by or under this Act and bye-laws.
Similarly, Clause 49 of Pakistan Engineering Council Bye-laws, 1976 is reproduced below.
49. The powers and duties of the officers and staff shall be such as may be laid down from time to time in the Standing Orders framed by the Governing Body.
I must point out that you also failed to utilize powers vested in you as Chairman under Clause 3A(1)/(2) as it was done only a day after the 52nd Governing Body meeting, as there was no emergency.
It is evident from these clauses that your order mentioned above has no legal standing. You, unfortunately, have failed to acquire permission from the Governing Body. To make things worse the positions mentioned in the said order e.g., Technical Advisor (Operations), Technical Advisor (Regulation) etc. do not exist in the PEC nomenclature. These positions were created without any approval of office, legal and competent forum. I am not sure whether provisions and financial impacts were included in the recently approved budget.
You may recall that 20 members of Governing Body had filed for requisition of meeting of Governing Body on 20/06/2025 but you ignored the requisition, once again violating Clause 34(5) of Pakistan Engineering Council bye-laws,1976.
Registrar has entered a secret agreement with Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC) for renting out a floor of PEC Office in Lahore without any approval of Governing Body once again violating Clause 3A(1) of PEC Act 1976 as amended. I have mentioned time and time again in the meeting of the 10th Management Committee meeting held on 4th June 2025 to check the agreement which PEC has made with the Government of Punjab regarding non-payment of use of land which was duly endorsed by the then Governing Body, I am afraid that you not only ignored the advice but also misinformed Governing Body during the 52nd meeting. I would strongly urge you to share the agreement done with the Government of Punjab and the resolution of Governing Body with an endorsement and with signatures of members of the Governing Body.
You are deliberately hiding the matter of PEC and National Technology Council without taking the Governing Body in confidence. Even though you brought this matter to the agenda of 52nd Governing Body meeting but you intentionally left it incomplete despite the fact of my insistence and of the other learned members. Finally, you categorically said that no matter what you will not share the details with the Governing Body. I do not see the proceedings of the 52nd Governing Body meeting were recorded. I am confident that this will be reflected in the minutes. Once again, a major policy decision without any discussion or prior approval. I am sure you have also misguided the Government also on this very important matter.
I would once again very humbly request you to kindly respect rules and regulations and refrain such blatant violation which will lead to a major disaster. You may also recall the entire Management Committee has shown complete lack of confident in you in writing during the 108th meeting the Management Committee held on 4th June 2025.
I would like to advise you to kindly refrain from taking such illegal decisions before it’s too late.”
