ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday stressed the need for market-based knowledge in the engineering sector and creating links between universities and industries so that the country could make progress in different technological fields.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the governing body of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) at Aiwan-i-Sadr, the president said people should be encouraged to specialise in different technological and engineering fields and women should also be motivated to avail ample opportunities available in the engineering sector.

“The environment in the country has changed a lot and women must grab emerging opportunities in different technological and engineering fields,” he added.

Referring to myriad advancement in the field of engineering, the president said it was the field which had built nations and flourished civilisations.

The engineering sector, he said, had undergone a sea change, providing vast opportunities in defence capability, IT, robotics, agriculture, construction fields, etc.

The president said that today’s era had witnessed a shift from brick and mortar to use of intellectual capabilities and intellect-based decisions.

He cited the decisions taken by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic and compared it with that of the worsening conditions in India, which showed the difference.

The president said that high hopes were attached with the engineers as they would have to enhance their skills to serve the country in different fields, especially in IT, environment and energy sectors.

He said skill development was vital to get jobs and stressed the need for skill development of illiterate segments of society so that they could be able to earn their livelihood.

President Alvi said that universities of the country had produced a large number of engineers in the past who went abroad due to lack of opportunities and infrastructure in the country.

He stressed the need for further raising the standard of technological and engineering education in universities of the country to meet modern requirements.

He said that in the olden days the engineering skills had helped in construction of pyramids of Egypt, Moenjo­daro, Taj Mahal and Grand Trunk Road.

The president said that in the Islamic architecture dooms and arch infrastructure had been developed without the use of steel.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz said that development of the engineering sector was linked with the economic policy of the incumbent government.

He said a nation could never make progress without making development in the engineering field.

The minister expressed the confidence that the PEC, like its past contributions, would further enhance its standard and groom skilled engineers to serve the country.

PEC Chairman Dr Najeeb Haroon briefed the gathering on the role and functions of the council.

He said the council was synchronising the engineering sector with international standards as recognised by the developed countries.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021