Deputy Chairman Planning Commission

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has appointed Engr Dr M. Akram Sheikh as Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and expressed hope that with the induction of this experienced professional, there will be a positive change in strengthening the economic set-up.
This is the first time that a seasoned professional engineer having over 42 years multifarious experience to his credit, has been selected for this key post.
His appointment has been widely appreciated by the industrial & economic circles.
Prior to this assignment, Dr Sheikh has held other senior positions including Secretary Industries & Production, Secretary Water & Power, Secretary Communications and most recently, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission.
The individual has proven his metal in each capacity.
Dr Sheikh has an excellent track proven record and is a knowledgeable, result-oriented and highly regarded professional.
He is a Gold Medalist from University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, where he did his graduation in 1962 with distinction. After graduation, he joined WAPDA as Design Engineer. He did his Masters in Structural Engineering in 1964 from Leeds University, UK as Commonwealth scholar. Later on, he had his Doctorate in engineering from University of Calgary, Alberta in 1967 in a record period of nineteen months.
After completing higher studies, Dr Sheikh returned to serve his country and in 1968, joined Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) as Chief Engineer. In 1974, he was appointed Managing Director/ Chief Executive Heavy Foundry and Forge Engineering Ltd.
In 1984, Dr Sheikh was appointed Managing Director, Metropolitan Steel Corporation.
In 1985, he was appointed initially as Director Operations and then as Managing Director, Pakistan Steel. His achievements in streamlining the operations of this huge organisation and putting it on strong footing will be remembered for ever.
Optimum capacity utilisation with highest possible yields, strengthening of the local capacity for spare parts manufacturing and diversification of products in line with future requirements of the country are a few of his contributions to Pakistan Steel.
After working as Chief Executive of Experts Advisory Cell for two years, Dr Sheikh was appointed as Chairman, State Engineering Corporation in 1989.When Engineering Development Board was established in 1995, Dr Akram Sheikh was appointed as Vice-Chairman/ Chief Executive, EDB. Dr Akram Sheikh's contribution in accelerating the indigenization of engineering parts & components has given a boost to develop the local engineering industry.
The progressive indigenization in auto sector alone has helped immensely in creating local job opportunities, saving hundreds of millions of much-needed foreign exchange, substituting imports, and encouraging the vendor industry to enter the export regime.
The OEMs and Vendors have invested around USD 250-300 million during the last four years and plan to invest additional around USD 300 million during next two years.
He continued to hold this post in addition to his assignment as Federal Secretary. In 2002, when he was Federal Secretary, Ministry of industries & Production, he was also posted as Chairman, EDB.
As Federal Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, Dr Akram Sheikh, through reorganisation and revitalisation, redesigned the professional ethos of the Ministry and its support organisations from controlling authorities to facilitation agencies.
This helped the Ministry of Industries & Production regain its credibility and position of an effective bridge between the government and the industry. This became possible due to MoI&P's extraordinary contribution towards resolving the stakeholders problems, which were impeding growth in production & investment.
The measures taken by the MoI&P under the professional guidance and leadership of Dr M. Akram Sheikh put the industrial economy on the right track and provided a sound base for achieving respectable economic growth and national self-respect.
The local manufacturing picked up and the share of manufacturing in GDP increased progressively from 16.7% in FY 2000 to 17.7% in FY2002 and 18.4% in FY2003, which may touch 19.0% in FY2004.
This enabling environment provided the ground for further investments; the benefits of which will magnify with time in the form of industrial growth coupled with employment generation and poverty eradication.
In October 2002, when the President through an Ordinance superseded the Pakistan Engineering Council, Dr Sheikh was also appointed for two years as Chairman, PEC to enable this regulatory body to play its due role in the national development.
Under his professional guidance, the interim executive committee has streamlined the working of PEC in order to bring the entire engineering community together and has planned an integrated approach for rapid and sustainable economic development.
Dr Sheikh is a true Pakistani with very positive, dedicated and honest working style.
His induction as Deputy Chairman, Planning Corporation will go a long way towards assisting the government in achieving the ambitious targets set by the President and the Prime Minister.