HYDERABAD, Feb 21: Dr Illahi B. Shaikh, a graduate of the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, has been elected as vice- president of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage from Asia region.

A university spokesman told journalists on Thursday that the federal ministry of water and power had recommended the name of Dr Shaikh, a graduate of 1971-batch of the MUET, to contest the election.

Dr Shaikh is presently serving as chief engineering adviser to the chairmen of the Federal Flood Commission, National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, National Committee on Large Dams and Dams Safety Council.

The commission has elected a Pakistani engineer to represent Asia after a gap of 12 years and earlier former Wapda chairman Shamsul Mulk had assumed the same office.

The commission is a non-profit and non-governmental international organisation dedicated to enhancing worldwide supply of food and fibre for all by improving water and land management and productivity of irrigated and drained lands through appropriate management techniques under the cover of United Nations.

Dr Shaikh has 39-year experience in the fields of project management, coordination, planning and supervision of medium size and mega projects in public and private sector. He has been working with the federal government for the last 20 years.

MUET Vice-Chancellor Dr Abdul Qadeer Rajput and faculty members have congratulated Dr Shaikh.

He has worked as civil engineer for Aramco, Saudi Arabia, Federal Flood Commission secretary and federal coordinator of National Drainage Programme for mega project of irrigation and drainage.—APP