HYDERABAD, Sept 24: The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, in collaboration with the Institute of Engineers, the Federation of Engineering Institution of South and Central Asia and Aptech Computer Education organized an international conference on the "advancement of engineering profession in emerging international scenario" on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof B. S. Chowdhry, the convener of the conference, highlighted the diversified scope of the event in which "World Trade Organization: Breaking the barriers around globe" was the main theme.

He said Pakistan must realize the pros and cons of globalization and the WTO. Emad Siddiqui, the president of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said engineering profession would play a major role in developing the economy.

As the WTO was breaking the barrier, ''our graduates must be armed'' with the latest knowledge and technology to join the rest of the world in the march towards the WTO regime.

M.P. Gangwani, the president of the Institute of Engineers and of the Federation of Engineering Institution of South and Central Asia, said there was an urgent need to interact with international trade and industry to explore WTO's implications.

He said the IEP had chalked out various training programmes for graduate engineers to prepare them for coming challenges. Mr Gangwani emphasized the need for Pakistani universities to produce world class engineers.

Prof Dr A. A. Abro, the dean of the faculty of engineering, pointed out that being the ISO certified university, the MUET had taken the lead in producing quality engineers in 16 disciplines of engineering.

Adnan Malik of the Aptech education gave a presentation on the "Dot Net Technologies". Prof Dr Fayaz Lohar of the International Islamic University, Malaysia, gave a presentation on mechatronics and aerospace technology.