Written by Engr Asghar Hayat
In a grand ceremony held at the President House, the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Excellence Awards celebrated the outstanding contributions of 29 remarkable engineers from various fields. President Dr. Arif Alvi presided over the event, bestowing the prestigious awards in the presence of PEC Chairman Engr. Najeeb Haroon and Committee Convener Engr. Lt. Gen ® Moazzam Ejaz.
The ceremony, which took place on January 22 at the Presidential Palace, was attended by distinguished guests, including Chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council, Engineer Najeeb Haroon, Committee Convener Lieutenant General (Retired) Mazhar Ijaz, and Convener of the Pakistan Development Committee, Mir Masood Rashed. Their cordial invitation to attend this esteemed awards ceremony was a testament to the high regard for the engineering community.
Addressing the audience, Convener of the PEC Excellence Awards Committee 2022, Engr. Lt. Gen ® Moazzam Ejaz, commended the diligent efforts of the committee in selecting engineers who have excelled in diverse fields. The selection process involved engineers competing in eight categories, with 29 exceptional individuals being transparently chosen for their noteworthy achievements.
The award categories included Lifetime Achievement for Distinguished National Service, Academia and Research, Innovation and Emerging Technologies Development, Young Technopreneurs, Engineering Policy, Regulations and Advocacy, and Engineering Consultancy Services & Infrastructure and Construction Industry.
Among the distinguished recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award were former federal minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman WAPDA Engr. Lt. Gen Sajjad Ghani, and Vice Chancellor Quaid E Azam University Engr. Prof Dr Naiz Akhtar, former CEO Phillips Engr. Shahid Zaki, Engineering and Management Services Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Zafar Hussain Siddique, Engr. Prof Dr. Muhammad Akbar, Engr. Ibrahim Samoon, Engr Waseem Nazir, Engr Mir Masood Rashid, Engr. Dr Mahmood Ahmad Sulerhi, & Engr. Dr Waqas Anwar.
In the Academia and Research category, Engr. Dr Hammad Omer, Engr. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Suleman Tahir, Engr. Prof. Dr Faizullah Khan Kakar, and Engr. Prof Dr. Khadija Qureshi were recognized for their significant contributions.
Outstanding services in Innovation and Emerging Technologies were acknowledged through awards presented to Engr Dr Muhammad Umer, Engr Dr. Zahid Hussain Khand, Engr Syed Tanveer Ahmed Jafri, Prof Dr. Murtaza Najabat Ali, and Engr Muhammad Nasir Khalily.
The Young Technopreneurs category saw Engr. Prof. Dr Muhammad Usman and Engr Nadeem Ahmed receiving accolades for their remarkable work.
In Engineering Policy, Regulations, and Advocacy, Engr Farhat Adil & Engr Najam Bilal were honored for their exemplary services.
Engineers excelling in Engineering Consultancy Services & Infrastructure and Construction Industry, including Engr Arshad Dad, Engr Muhammad Naeem Khan, and Engr. Dr Zaka Ullah Khan Gandapur, were also recognized for their outstanding contributions.
President Dr. Arif Alvi, in his address, praised Pakistani engineers for their pivotal role in the past development of Gulf countries. He stressed the need for more engineers across various sectors to ensure sustainable progress within Pakistan. Despite challenges, the President acknowledged the effectiveness of the information technology sector and the significant contributions of over 22 million freelancers to the country’s economy.
PEC Chairman Engr. Najeeb Haroon highlighted the diverse achievements of engineers in fields such as defense production, nuclear technology, water and electricity, railways, urban development, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, manufacturing, chemical, and petrochemical industries. He also emphasized the active participation of the Pakistan Engineering Council in international professional forums, representing the country on global platforms. The Chairman concluded by highlighting the council’s supervisory and evaluative role in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, Myanmar, and the Central Asian Republic.
The recognition of the services rendered by Pakistan’s competent engineers is a commendable effort on the part of the Pakistan Engineering Council. Engineers, being the backbone of the nation, deserve not only acknowledgment but also the preservation of their success stories for future generations. It is essential to grant engineers the respect and recognition that is rightfully theirs. In the country, there are 6 to 8 ministries that are technical in nature, and their heads, namely Federal Secretaries, should be engineers. Until engineers are included in the decision-making process, the country cannot progress.
