Engineer Zahoor Sarwar, PhD, a member of the Governing Body of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), has exposed a corrupt scheme involving the sale and purchase of engineers’ licenses by a PEC mafia during a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on August 1, 2024. He explained that PEC, a statutory body formed by an act of Parliament in 1976, is supposed to regulate the engineering profession, act as a think tank for the Government of Pakistan, and provide solutions for engineering problems in the country. However, PEC’s only known role to the general public is overseeing engineering education in Pakistan.
Dr. Sarwar revealed that PEC has been hijacked by a mafia prioritizing personal interests and business ventures over the profession’s integrity. He highlighted policies that have given rise to a grimy business of buying and selling engineers’ licenses. To do business with any government entity, contractors, consultants, or companies must register with PEC, paying an annual renewal fee of 400,000 to 500,000 rupees, depending on the category. Over 100,000 companies have registered with PEC to date.
According to PEC bylaws, companies must hire a specific number of engineers to obtain registration or renewal. This requirement was initially meant to ensure the growth of the engineering profession and the quality of engineering projects. However, Dr. Sarwar exposed that a group within PEC, including some officials and Governing Body members, has twisted this rule to their advantage. Instead of hiring engineers on a monthly salary basis, they purchase engineers’ licenses annually. The current rate is Rs 100,000 per year for civil engineers and Rs 25,000 per year for electrical and mechanical engineers.
Dr. Sarwar expressed his frustration over the devaluation of engineers in Pakistan. He pointed out that engineers who have studied for 16 years and whose parents have spent millions on their education are now valued at a mere Rs 2,000 per month, less than what a laborer earns daily. This situation has forced engineers to sell their licenses instead of securing proper jobs.
He also revealed that cases of non-engineers being registered as engineers have been reported to the FIA. Despite this, the mafia’s influence has kept these cases from reaching a final verdict. PEC management is aware of these activities and has even made policies to support the sale and purchase of engineers’ licenses. One such policy, implemented four years ago, prevents engineers from deregistering from a firm for a whole year after selling their licenses, violating basic human rights.
Dr. Sarwar recounted his meetings with mafia members who justified their actions by arguing that buying licenses annually is cheaper than hiring engineers on a monthly salary. Despite proposing a policy change to hire engineers on a project basis with monthly salaries, his efforts have been fruitless.
He appealed to government officials to intervene and stop this corrupt practice. He also urged engineers to stop selling their licenses to the mafia, hoping that this would force the creation of more jobs and restore respect for the engineering profession.
