The University of Lahore (UoL) in collaboration with PEC organized the brainstorming sessions and consultative workshop focused on addressing issues and challenges faced by HEIs of Punjab Central region. The event was hosted under the patronage of Engr. Uzair Rauf (Deputy Chairman BoD) by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf (Rector UoL) and Dr. Habib ur Rehman (Dean FET/ Former VC UET Lahore).
The initiative, aligned with the vision of Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir, was held during February 12 to 14, bringing together key stakeholders, including students, parents, alumni, academia, industry representatives, and government officials. The consultative workshop consolidated the insights from the earlier discussions and graced by the Chairman PEC as the Chief Guest, along with PEC Governing Body members and leading academicians of the country.
Speaking at the concluding session, Engr. Waseem Nazir emphasized that this workshop is part of a nationwide series covering nine clusters of 130 HEIs. He reiterated that the initiative, spearheaded by the PEC Governing Body (2024-27), is aimed at reforming engineering education and enhancing the status of the engineering profession in society. “This initiative is designed to address the growing needs of the engineering sector, future challenges, and the latest skill requirements. We aim to align engineering education with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and equip graduates with the expertise needed to tackle evolving global challenges,” he stated. The outcomes of brainstorming sessions concluded in the need for revision of engineering curriculum, establishing/ adopting the concept of centralized/ cluster based labs approach for economy of scales, training of faculty and PEVs on modern trends inline with international requirement, equipping graduates with the industry/ market based soft skills for better employability and implementation of the Professor of Practice concept by HEIs which will not only improve the quality of education at students level but also strengthen the industry- academia linkage.
The event witnessed participation from prominent PEC members, including Vice Chairman PEC Punjab Dr. Suhail Aftab Qureshi and GB members Engr. Usman Farooq, Dr. Naveed Ramzan, Dr. Khalid Farooq, and Dr. Noor Sheikh alongwith renowned academic figures such as Dr. Salim Abid Tabassum (Ex Dean UET Lahore), Dr. Shahid Masud (LUMS), Dr. Shahid Munir (VC UET Lahore), Dr. Mujahid Kamran (former VC PU Lahore), Engr. Haider Ali Khan (Principal, Lahore Leads University), and Dr. Fayaz Hussain Shah (UoL), Dr. Sharif Bhatti (Ex VC UET Taxila) contributed to the discussions.
Leading academician and industry gurus appreciated PEC’s initiative, acknowledging it as a crucial step toward education reforms for strengthening Pakistan’s engineering education system.
