Engineers stand as the master architects of economic growth, fueling innovation, crafting infrastructure, and igniting industries that spark employment opportunities. Their expertise in design, construction, and technological advancement forms the bedrock of a nation’s prosperity, forging an unbreakable bond between engineering prowess and economic ascendance.

As the driving force behind progress, engineers shape the very fabric of a country’s development, transforming vision into reality and propelling nations toward a brighter future.

Pakistan’s history offers a powerful testament to the transformative potential of engineering. During the 1960s and 1970s, engineers were the architects of an era of extraordinary economic growth, propelling the nation into the spotlight as a regional exemplar. Through their ingenuity and dedication, they laid the foundations of prosperity and development.

But the last two decades tell a starkly different story. This once-esteemed profession has suffered a devastating decline, leaving a trail of inefficiency, missed opportunities, and disillusionment in its wake.

The power sector stands as a glaring symbol of this downfall. Once a driver of progress, it has now left Pakistan in dire straits, made the nation a global begging bowl —a grim reality even acknowledged by the prime minister at the World Economic Forum.

Meanwhile, critical challenges such as water management in canals, which are fundamentally technical, remain unresolved. Engineers, who should be leading the charge, have instead chosen silence, leaving these vital issues in the hands of politicians who are better at sowing division than delivering solutions.

Amidst this decline, one might ask: Doesn’t Pakistan possess a body to address these engineering challenges? The answer is yes. Nearly half a century ago, the government established the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) under the PEC Act of 1976, entrusting it with regulating the engineering profession and driving sustainable growth across economic and social sectors.

Tasked with upholding internationally recognized standards of competence and ethics, PEC was envisioned as a think tank to tackle the nation’s pressing technical challenges, including energy, water, manufacturing, and more. Its purpose was to provide visionary guidance, ensuring that engineering remained central to........

© Business Recorder