ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that there is a crucial link between universities and industry for market-based knowledge in the engineering sector, so that the country could make strides in different technological fields.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the governing body of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) at the Aiwan e Sadr on Monday, the president said that differently-abled persons should be encouraged to get access to different technical faculties, besides, the womenfolk be motivated to avail the ample opportunities in the engineering sector.
"The environment in the country has changed a lot and the women must grab the emerging opportunities in the technological and engineering fields," he said.
Referring to myriad advancements 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 further said today's era has witnessed a shift from brick and mortar to use of intellectual capabilities and intellectual-based decisions.
He cited the government's decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic and compared it with that of worsening conditions in India, which showed the difference.
The president said Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan had been consistently insisting that use of force was not a solution to the Afghan conflict.
The world now acknowledged what Pakistan had been saying in the last 20 years.
They realised it after spending 2.3$ trillion over Afghan conflict, which also resulted in huge human losses, he added.
The president said that high hopes were attached with the engineers as they would have to enhance skills and serve the country in various fields especially in IT, environment, and energy sectors.
He opined that skill development was vital to meet the market-based jobs and also stressed upon the skill development of illiterate segments of society, so that they could be able to earn their livelihood.
The universities in Pakistan had groomed huge chunk of engineers in the past who went abroad due to lack of opportunities and infrastructure here, but they had performed outstandingly well in various fields.
The president also emphasised upon further raising the standards of technological and engineering education at universities to meet the latest requirements.
He said in olden days, the engineering skills had helped in construction of pyramids of Egypt, Mohen-jo Daro, Taj Mahal, and the grand trunk road of Sher Shah Suri, etc.
The president observed that in the Islamic architecture, domes and arch infrastructure was developed, even without use of steel.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz said that development of engineering sector was linked with the economic policy of the incumbent government.
He said a nation could not aspire to make progress without development in the engineering field.
The minister expressed the confidence that the PEC, like its past contributions, would further enhance its standards and groom skilled engineers to serve the country, which would be a quantum leap.
Chairman PEC Dr Engineer Najeeb Haroon briefed the gathering about the role and functions of the council. He said that they were synchronising the engineering sector with international standards as recognised by the developed countries.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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