Professor Dr Fazal Haq, vice chancellor of NED University of Engineering and Technology said on Friday that civil engineering has a core position in human history as it not only tells about social evolution but also hints about lifestyle and socio-economic uplift in a society.
He expressed these views at the inaugural session of the 8th International Civil Engineering Congress at NED University, here on Friday where Martin Smith, a British expert and consultant and Dr S F A Rafeeqi, chairman of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), were also present.
IEP organised it in collaboration with Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries (FEIIC), Federation of Engineering Institutions of South & Central Asia (FEISCA) and the Asian Engineering Co-ordinating Council (ACEC). Dr Rafeeqi proudly lauded the role of NED University and IEP in arranging the graceful event.
"Our determination is to ensure development through innovation on the basis of knowledge. This Congress aims at providing a platform for great opportunities," he said, urging the researchers, educational experts and engineer to share views on IEP platform to put up a joint endeavour towards civil engineering field.
IEP chairman said that experts from United States, Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and other parts of the world will present around 41 research dissertations during the 2-day Congress. IEP's secretary, Ayaz Mirza, said that engineers played the most important role in national development and people from this field had used the best engineering technology to make human life comfortable, safe and productive while more inventions and innovations were in pipeline.
Praising efforts of the organising committee and engineers, IEP secretary said that the Congress aimed at introducing young engineers with new horizons so that they could be motivated to excel in their fields. He urged the youngsters to gain knowledge, expertise and techniques if they wanted to progress in their fields and bring global success for Pakistani youth. Vice president of IEP's Karachi Centre, Suhail Bashir, and Congress Convenor Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi also spoke on the occasion.
The 8th International Civil Engineering Congress is being held in 10 sessions to provide technical opportunities to Pakistani engineers alongside establishing a soft image of Pakistan among those foreign engineers who are attending this event. The concluding session will be held at 4pm on Saturday (today) at the IEP Convention Centre on the 5th floor of the IEP Building on Shahar-e-Faisal.