Tag Archives: engineeringreview

NESPAK Wins Energy Sector Project in Bahrain

on 22/06/2023

LAHORE: NESPAK, a leading engineering consultancy firm, has been awarded a prestigious project in Bahrain. The project involves conducting the annual performance test of the Al Dur-II Integrated Water and Power Plant, which has a capacity of 1500 MW. The announcement was made by Dr. Tahir Masood, Managing Director NESPAK, on Tuesday.
NESPAK’s scope of services includes the conduct of an annual performance test for the Al-Dur-II plant, which was commissioned in 2022. The duration of the project is two months, and the client for this project is NOMAC, a global operations and maintenance service provider for the energy sector.
Dr. Masood highlighted that this project is a testament to NESPAK’s expertise and capability in providing top-notch engineering consultancy services in the power sector. NESPAK is committed to delivering the services on time and with the highest quality standards. This project will pave the way for further opportunities for NESPAK in the global market, as the company remains dedicated to delivering excellence in all its endeavors.
NESPAK has an impressive track record of providing engineering consultancy services to major infrastructure projects in Pakistan and abroad. The firm’s experience and expertise in the power sector are widely recognized, and the Al-Dur-II project is a significant milestone for the company.
The award of the project to NESPAK reflects the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality engineering consultancy services to its clients. The Al-Dur-II project is set to further enhance NESPAK’s reputation and provide a strong foundation for future growth in the global market.

ASPIRE Pakistan invites engineering intelligentsia for brainstorming
Center for innovative projects, grants suggested

on 22/06/2023

ASPIRE Pakistan arranged an ORIC/BIC leadership moot to attend the brainstorming session on the topic of Industry Academia Gap and how overseas Pakistanis can help in bridging this gap.
ASPIRE Pakistan is a 501c3 compliant nonprofit organization (registered in the USA) of passionate overseas Pakistanis with a vision for a socially and economically prosperous Pakistan through innovation and entrepreneurship.
ASPIRE’s mission is to accelerate the growth of the knowledge economy in Pakistan by leading the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, while connecting stakeholders and creating socioeconomic prosperity in an equitable and sustainable manner.
To achieve its mission, ASPIRE Pakistan engages all stakeholders, including academia, business/industry, government, overseas Pakistanis, on-ground experts, and relevant organizations, in an effective partnership, enhancing individual potential into collective opportunities.
In his welcome note, Hassan Syed, Founder and Chairperson of ASPIRE Pakistan appreciated Vice Chancellor NED University, Prof. Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tufail Jokhio, and Dr. Riaz Uddin for hosting the event.
He wished special thanks to Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry for being the catalyst and a mentor to him.
The meeting was also attended by visiting Dr Azam Arastu, President Apex Consultants, and Vice President (Retired) – Boeing Space & Defense Systems Los Angeles, California (USA). The national idea bank Pakistan and Aspire Pakistan are the brain child of Dr Azam Arastu and Mr Hassan Syed.
Everyone participated well and contributed intellectually with an open mind. During the conversations, the following ideas were identified and discussed as potential valuable activities that could help:
• Problem Solving Competitions to engage industry in solving industry problems and promote innovative thinking among students.
• Faculty Training Program on Problem Statements and Market Definition to have better quality final year projects.
• Develop a framework of engagement and develop best practices
• Publish a list of innovative minds and annual awards to recognize innovators
• Develop and maintain a central place for all grant opportunities and list of highly innovative projects seeking funding
• Perform portfolio assessment for existing inventions and research to help in developing commercialization roadmaps
• Offer courses through industry experts as part of a visiting faculty program in which overseas Pakistanis can offer advanced knowledge of technology and leadership.
ASPIRE Pakistan is committed to developing vibrant innovation ecosystems throughout Pakistan and Academia is to play a leadership role in instilling a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Our team of dedicated volunteers from 20+ countries will work on these ideas further and convert them into sustainable programs that can be offered to the partnering universities.

Gwadar turns less power-deficient city

on 22/06/2023

Balochistan’s port city of Gwadar is now less power-deficient in practical terms after the 100MW Iran-Gwadar power transmission project.
Abdul Aziz Uqaili, the Chief Secretary of Balochistan and an engineer too said last month that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would inaugurate the 100MW Iran-Gwadar power transmission project during his visit to Balochistan which was due by writing this report.
Uqaili who was there for a high-level meeting to review the ongoing uplift projects in Gwadar said under the power transmission project, Gwadar will get 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran.
National Dispatch Company (NDC), Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESC), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), China Overseas Port Holding Company, and the departments concede with the project have completed their preparations.
The project was complete and what was left was the unveiling of the project that the prime minister was to do. The electricity supply to Gwadar will be formally started.
During his visit, the PM will also open the project of the first cross-stuffing facility at Gwadar Port, dredging at Gwadar Port. Besides, distribution of boat engine checks to the deserving fishermen of Gwadar will also be done,” he said.
The chief secretary reportedly stressed that the incumbent government was committed to the development of the coastal belt of Balochistan and through various uplift projects launched in the province, trying to benefit the local people of Balochistan.
“The implementation of all these projects is part of the vision of the PM Pakistan for Balochistan,” he emphasized.
Moreover, he was briefed about the administrative structure of the Gwadar district, its historical importance, and ongoing development projects by the federal and provincial governments.
Gwadar power woes are likely to be addressed by the end of this year after the completion of the 300 megawatts (MW) coal-fired power plant.
The 300MW coal-fired Gwadar Power Plant would cater needs of some 150,000 local people by the end of 2023 under the 2050 Master Plan of Gwadar.
The power plant of an independent power producer was one of the key energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he added.
The project aimed at improving the reliability of the local power supply which would help gradually solve the problems in current economic development and urban construction in the Gwadar region, which is being restricted by the shortage of power.
All major projects under CPEC in Gwadar, including Gwadar Power Plant, the New Gwadar International Airport Project, the China Pak Friendship Hospital, China-Pak Technical and Vocational Institute in Gwadar, the Gwadar East-bay Expressway Project, Gwadar Free Zone, and Gwadar Port need energy.
Makran division of Balochistan depends on Iranian power for a long. Pakistan signed with Iran agreement in 2003 under which Iran had to daily supply 35 megawatts to Balochistan’s coastal belt.
In 2011, the agreement was extended, and Iran was asked to increase the capacity to 70 megawatts.
Five years later, when construction work in the deep-sea port of Gwadar gained momentum, 30 megawatts were added to the power supply and Iran has since been selling 100 megawatts to Pakistan to light up its coastal areas.
“Power shortfalls in Iran have led to load shedding in Gwadar, Turbat, and Makraan regions. These areas are not connected to the national grid and are dependant upon the Iranian power supply.

Is Islamabad not reaping the benefits of AER in Sindh?

on 22/06/2023

Islamabad’s competitive bidding process for renewable power projects—wind and solar—under category three has surprised Sindh’s Energy Department because only one project from a series of its ready projects has been picked up for the bidding.  Since its 1875 MW wind and 1400 MW solar power generation projects are ready, Sindh feels the federal government is unable to tap the benefits for the country which it believes cannot afford expensive energy in the wake of the current national fiscal situation.   In a letter to Khurram Dastagir, the Federal Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Shaikh, Sindh Minister for Energy writes that “the AEDB has picked and chosen 22 wind and 27 solar power projects from the list without mentioning any criteria. It is also surprising that only one solar project from 25 solar projects of the Government of Sindh has been chosen for competitive bidding.”  The letter invites the attention of Mr. Dastagir on the AEDB’s recently issued letter No.B/3/1CBwind/17 dated 16th January in which AEDB has referred CCOE decision dated 4th April 2019 and CCl approved ARE Policy 2019 wherein category-Ill projects are allowed to go ahead, subject to be successful in the competitive bidding process to be undertaken by AEDB for each technology based on (i) the quantum ascertained by the IGCEP and (ii) confirmation of the interconnection ready zones (IRZs) by NTDCL. The IGCEP 2021 approved by NEPRA allocated a quantum of 1000 MW each for the induction of wind power capacity through competitive bidding by the year 2024. The category-Ill includes thirty-one (31) wind projects with a cumulative capacity of 2139 MW and sixty-nine (69) solar PV projects of 4193 MW. The AEDB has picked and chosen 22 wind and 27 solar power projects from the list without mentioning any criteria. It is also surprising that only one solar project from 25 solar projects of GOS has been chosen for competitive bidding.Furthermore; instead of taking a quantum of 1000 MW each for induction from which wind and solar as approved IGCEP 2021, only 322 MW capacity from wind and 392 MW capacity from solar has been proposed for procurement in upcoming competitive bidding without mentioning any clear criteria.It is an injustice that only a meager capacity is proposed to be procured from clean, cheap, and affordable energy resources which is one of the core initiatives of the current government to replace the expensive fuel plants.The letter writes that there is huge potential for Alternative and Renewable Energy Resources in Sindh Province. The Sindh government initiated 29 wind projects with a cumulative capacity of 1875 MW and 25 solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 1400 MW under category-Ill are waiting for competitive bidding for many years.Mentioning Variable RE locational study conducted by World Bank, the letter writes only minor upgradation or reinforcement and enhancement of transmission and distribution network in Sindh province will enable to evacuate 6,765 MW till 2025 and a further 10,035 MW till 2030 from wind and solar projects.Shaikh has written that it will be an injustice to Sindh province for ignoring its projects despite having huge potential and large numbers of valid LOIs holders in this competitive bidding. He has requested that a complete quantum of 1000 MW each for wind & solar projects as approved in IGCEP of 2021 may be considered for bidding and all wind and solar projects of GOS may be included for fair competition. I hope that our request will be considered and cheap and clean energy will be procured for the betterment of the country.

Program launched to train 3,000 undergraduates in Sindh

on 22/06/2023

Hazza Institute of Technology (HIT) and Sindh’s Information Science & Technology Department (ISTD) have committed to training 3,000 undergraduates under the IT Industry-academia bridge program in Sindh.
ISTD and HIT signed an agreement to launch the IT Industry-academia bridge program this month. The signing ceremony was attended by Ms. Tanzila Ume Habiba, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on ISTD, Secretary, Mr. Asif Ikram, and HIT Managing Director, Azhar Iqbal Sindhu.
HIT is a joint project of the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Government of Pakistan under a Public-Private-Partnership program that aims to provide Vocational, Technical & Professional Education and Training, Skills Development, Career Counseling, and Job Placement to the citizens of Pakistan to enable them to earn their respectful livelihoods and alleviate poverty in Pakistan.
The IT Industry-academia bridge program is a collaborative effort between the ISTD, Sindh, and HIT to bridge the gap between academia and industry in the field of IT in Sindh.
The program aims to provide practical industry exposure and hands-on training to 3000 students in their 6th, 7th, and 8th semesters from public and private sector universities, in order to equip them with real-world experience and prepare them for the challenges of the IT industry.
The ISTD, Sindh, and HIT will work together to ensure the success of the program and create a talent pool equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive innovation and growth in the IT sector.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative in Sindh, Ms. Tanzila Ume Habiba appreciated the efforts of HIT and the ISTD, Sindh for collaborating to launch this program.
Mr. Asif Ikram highlighted the role of IT skillsets in the economic growth of the country. He said that focusing on Human Capital development by investing in youth will bring a drastic change in the job scenario of the country. And, IT is the only sector that could bring forex inflow to the country. A country with more than 60% demographic balance in the favour of youth may result in economic stability, if the youth is trained in the IT field. ‘Academia-Industry Bridge Program will fetch more job opportunities for the youth onshore as well as offshore.’ He expressed his commitment to continue with such kind of training programs in the future.
The agreement ceremony was a significant step towards achieving the goal of bridging the gap between academia and industry in the IT sector, he said.
It demonstrated the commitment of the ISTD, Sindh, and HIT to create a conducive environment for the growth of the IT industry in the region.
The purpose of this linkage is to identify important academia-industry bridge activities that can stimulate the likelihood of employability among students. We continue to invest with the goal of providing Vocational, Technical & Professional Training, Skills Development, Career Counseling, and Job Placement to the residents of Sindh to enable them to earn their respectful livelihoods and alleviate poverty in Sindh.
HIT Managing Director, Azhar Iqbal Sindhu, expressed his enthusiasm for the program stating it is a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to contribute to the development of the IT industry in Sindh.
Bridging the gap between the IT industry and academia is crucial for the development and growth of the industry, says a press release. The industry needs a workforce that is equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to meet the constantly evolving demands of the market.
The efforts of ISTD and HIT will create a talent pool, equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive innovation and growth in the IT sector.