Deteriorating Structural Integrity: Penned Failure of Engineering Institutions in Pakistan
Revamped Article:
Engineers: The Mavericks of Modern Prosperity, Yet Plagued by Political Plunder
These visionary architects, engineers, mold our world, fueling innovation, shaping infrastructure, and driving industries that unleash waves of employment opportunities. With their innovative designs, cutting-edge construction, and technological prowess, they stand at the heart of a nation's economic ascendancy, forming an invincible bond between engineering genius and economic advancement.
Paving the way for a brighter future, engineers sculpt the very foundations of a country's evolution, turning dreams into reality. A shining example is Pakistan, whose journey illustrates the transformative impact of engineering prowess during the 1960s and 70s. Engineers, back then, were the catalysts of Pakistan's unprecedented economic growth, cast as the nation's beacon on the global stage.
However, the last few decades recount a different, disheartening narrative. The once lauded profession has mysteriously crumbled, leaving behind a carpet of inefficiency, missed opportunities, and a sense of disillusionment.
The power sector serves as a painful symbol of this regression, plunging Pakistan into a dire state. Once a catalyst for progress, it has now brought the nation to its knees, putting Pakistan in the enviable position of being a global beggar, a harsh reality even acknowledged by the nation's prime minister during the World Economic Forum.
Meanwhile, critical issues like water management in canals-inevitably technical challenges-remain unconquered. Engineers, the ones who should be riding the wave of change, prefer the calm of silence, thereby abandoning these vital issues to the grasps of political hotheads pontificating division, rather than finding solutions.
As the engineering profession drowns in a spiral of decline, one might ask whether Pakistan boasts a body to tackle the engineering debacle. Unsurprisingly, it does-the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Established over four and a half decades ago by the PEC Act of 1976, PEC was entrusted with the Centaurian task of not just regulating the engineering profession but also ensuring sustainable growth across economic and social sectors.
Envisioned as a brainstorming haven, PEC was expected to tackle the nation's pressing technical challenges, from energy, water, manufacturing, and more. Its purpose was to provide visionary guidance to guarantee that engineering remained the driving force behind Pakistan's development goals.
However, after five decades of existence, PEC's accomplishments are underwhelming, to say the least. Despite producing only nine codes or standards, it has merely contributed superficial touches to global standards developed long ago. It seems PEC has felt the urge to claim authorship of an ancient recipe, adding local flavor yet failing to prepare a masterpiece.
Moreover, PEC has woefully neglected celebrating and propagating Pakistan's rich engineering heritage. Missed opportunities abound to share the engineering ingenuity behind the Badshahi Mosque's sustainable construction, the intricate water systems of Shalimar Gardens, and the urban planning of Mohenjo-daro. Instead of acting as a global thought leader, PEC remains stunned, either unable, or unwilling to step into the limelight.
The rot within PEC can be traced back to the insidious infiltration of contractors and consultants into top leadership positions. These vested interests, more interested in personal gain than professional development, have seen PEC transform from a think tank into, primarily, a licensing authority. Contractors are sorted into eight levels based on project limits and professional credit points. The top category, C-A, allows participation in projects of any magnitude, making PEC an attractive venture due to its annual fees, while skimping on uplifting the profession or addressing Pakistan's most pressing challenges.
One of PEC's most significant failures is its abdication of its responsibility to enforce quality standards for infrastructure projects. Whether it's roads, power plants, or bridges, the term "PEC-registered contractor" has become synonymous with cost overruns, delays, and corruption, eroding public trust, contributing to Pakistan's dismal rank on the Corruption Perception Index, and leaving a trail of broken dreams.
Preferring to collect licenses instead of instilling quality, PEC has tarnished its reputation, damaging the ideals of integrity and excellence it was meant to uphold. In a country where restaurants and hotels are rated based on customer feedback, PEC's refusal to establish an evaluation mechanism for engineering projects stifles accountability and transparency.
Engineers, with inspired passion and innovative spirit, possess the power to shape the destinies of millions. A dedicated deviation from this path, however, has pushed the engineering profession into the shadows, leaving it lagging behind the respect afforded to other esteemed professions like medicine.
Reform demands dethroning the entrenched cartel that has hijacked the council. The 250 million citizens of Pakistan must rally to reclaim PEC from the clutches of the self-serving elite. Credible engineers with proven track records must lead it, ensuring PEC's revival as the guardian of the engineering profession, instead of a mere revenue generator.
In its current state, PEC embodies a bitter betrayal of the trust placed in it. The crumbling infrastructure, endlessly delayed projects, and systemic corruption tell a stark tale of wasted opportunities. But all is not lost. With renewed resolve, enhanced transparency, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, Pakistan can resurrect PEC into the intellectual hub and driving force for national progress it was destined to be.
Source: Business Recorder, 2025
Insights
- Recent reform efforts undertaken by PEC's Chairman Engr. Waseem Nazir include digital transformation, policy frameworks, institutional collaboration, and leadership initiatives designed to modernize PEC, aiming to align engineering education with national priorities and improve professional competency[1][2][3][4].
- Despite the aforementioned efforts, PEC's contractor classification system and reforms aimed at curbing project delays, cost overruns, or corruption have yet to bear tangible fruits[1][2].
- Engineers, with their credit in innovation and position in shaping industries, drive growth in various sectors, including finance, technology, and business.
- However, unchecked debt and interest rates can hinder a nation's progress, as seen in the power sector's impact on Pakistan's economy.
- As technology advances, so does the need for intricate index systems to monitor and manage economic changes.
- Science and medical-conditions play a crucial role in understanding and improving the lifestyle of people, which can be influenced by the industries they work in.
- General news outlets often cover stories about engineering feats, from sports stadium construction to educational and self-development facilities.
- Tragically, the engineering profession in Pakistan has faced challenges, with seemingly insurmountable debt and political positioning hindering its growth.
- A scriptwriter could pen a compelling story about the decline of the engineering profession and the fight to restore its former glory.
- In the 1960s and 70s, engineers were instrumental in Pakistan's development, contributing to the nation's growth and global recognition.
- The industry's current issues, including a lack of efficient positioning and missed growth opportunities, have led to a sense of disillusionment among engineers.
- To address these challenges, it is crucial to implement reforms that focus on improving competency, modernizing systems, and maintaining high standards of quality to regain the profession's respected position.
