The Pakistani engineers working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came in for much praise by visiting Engr. Syed Abdul Qadir Shah, the Chairman of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Islamabad. "You play an important role in serving the Kingdom as also in backing Pakistan, your home country. I am proud of you. Keep it up you with full devotion," Mr. Shah said. Engr. Shah was speaking as chief guest at a welcome reception party given in his honor by the Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF), in Jeddah, on Monday evening, 26 February 2012. "The message goes loud and clear for what you are doing for your country from outside," he said. The chief guest expressed pleasure for being among the expat engineers as, he said, they are the beacon light for their nation as also for a huge number of upcoming engineers in Pakistan. Mr. Shah lamented at the sorry state of the engineers in Pakistan and said that they are not jobless and not getting enough focuses there. "This is despite Pakistan being one of the six countries that are signatory – with provisional status – to the Washington Accord, an international engineering alliance," said the PEC chief. Other signatories to the Accord are India, China, Russia, Bangladesh and Germany, he said. Giving details of the functions of the PEC in Pakistan, Mr. Shah dwelt at the inner structural weaknesses of the body, which is being taken care of by means of electoral reform and also by taking up issues pertaining to engineers at the government level. For instance, he has taken up matter of service structures of engineers with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, which on implementation will ensure availability of competent and experienced engineers in the public sector, according to him. Any such government decision will promote engineers retiring at NPS Grade 19 to grade 21, which will give the due privilege and appreciation to the professionals, at par with doctors. He said that he is committed to improve the image of PEC for which every member feel proud of it.A statutory body, constituted under the PEC Act 1976, PEC is the apex body of the engineers in Pakistan, which was formed as key driving force for the growth of the nation's economy and other social areas, said Mr. Shah. He assured the EWF of taking up the demands of the Pakistan engineers with the government of Pakistan for according rights of votes in general elections to the expat engineers in Saudi Arabia. He also pledged to consider the EWF request to open PEC Chapter in Saudi Arabia and organizing the Pakistani engineers all over the world. The engineers present on the occasion praised Dr. Shah for ensuring health insurance policy for the engineers in Pakistan and expressed their desire to have such one for them too here in the Kingdom. Earlier, EWF President Dr. Abdul Aleem Khan thanked the newly elected chairman of PEC Engr. Syed Abdul Qadir Shah to join the function at short notice. In his presidential address, he said that overseas Pakistani engineers have proven their talent and professionalism on the international competition and also helped nation's economy by remitting valuable foreign exchange but at home it is not being acknowledged. We can also extend our contribution to solve the issues of power, water etc provided that PEC coordinates for such projects. He demanded on behalf of Pakistani Engineers that PEC should: EWF secretary general Engr. Masroor Elahi conducted the event. He presented the objective of the Forum which included improving image of the overseas Pakistani engineers by organizing seminar, publication of technical magazine, assist in career building, finding suitable employment, and guide engineering students, submit proposal to authorities, work with Saudi Council of Engineers, etc. He invited Engr. Abdul Qadir to join EWF seminar to be held in Jeddah on 25th April in which the renowned scientist Dr. Ataur Rahman will be the chief guest and key speaker, the invitation was conditionally accepted. Guest of honor Mr. Sohail Ali Khan, Press Consular at Pakistani Consulate presented on behalf of EWF the shield to chief guest Engr. Syed Abdul Qadir Shah. Other guests included Engrs. Syed Zafar Ali, Engr. Anwar Quraishi, Projects director airports at Rajab Silsilah, Mohammad Nawaz Khan of Pakistan investors Forum. The function started with the recitation of verses from the Qur'an by Engr. Qari Asif. Naat was presented by Sher Afzal. __
