Board of Revenue (BoR) has asked the foreign firms engaged as constructors, operators or consultants to get license from Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for carrying out any type of engineering activity within the country. Officials in Board of Revenue (BoR) told Business Recorder that the foreign construction companies operating within Pakistan had been asked to get licenses from PEC.
"It has been observed that some of the organisations are awarding construction works to the constructors, which are not registered with PEC or do not hold a valid PEC license of appropriate category or field of specialisation," officials said, adding that it was also noticed that some construction companies were acquiring services and expertise of some foreign companies for construction in Pakistan.
They said under the provision of PEC bylaws, all firms are required to obtain licenses from PEC before undertaking engineering works or consultancy services. "Foreign firms are granted licenses for specific projects in joint ventures with local firms duly registered with PEC, which need expertise and specialised technology that is not available to local constructors," they added.
Officials said the joint venture of foreign firms with local construction companies is a pre-requisite for grant of a license to a foreign constructor, operator or consultant in order to ensure transfer of technology, capacity building and up-gradation of local resources.
Officials further said that such actions are not in conformity with the provisions of PEC Construction and Operation Engineering Works 1987 and PEC Conduct and Practice of Consulting Engineers 1986 by-laws for construction, operation and constancy. Keeping in view such malpractices in construction industry, the BoR has directed foreign firms engaged as constructors, operators or consultants to get license from PEC before undertaking any type of construction work.