The Pakistan Engineering Council Working Group on Public Sector Institutions Issues (WG-PSII) held its second meeting at the Council’s Headquarters to discuss key issues faced by engineers in government organisations.
Engr Dr Khwaja Riffat Hasan chaired the meeting attended by Engr Abdul Latif (Co-Chairman), Engr Noraz Gul, Engr Dr Sajjad Hussain Baloch, Engr Khalid Mahmood, and other members.
The working group deliberated on strategies for implementing a uniform technical allowance for engineers serving in federal departments as well as in Sindh and Balochistan. Members expressed concern that while progress has been made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, engineers in Sindh, Balochistan, and several federal institutions continue to face significant pay disparities and a lack of benefits.
Following detailed consultations, the working group finalised a policy paper titled “Engineering Equity: The Pakistan Engineering Council’s Demands for Technical Allowance.” The paper recommends a standardised, policy-based technical allowance linked with Pakistan Engineering Council registration to eliminate inter-provincial and departmental inequities. The group decided to present the policy paper to the relevant authorities to ensure equal benefits for engineers at the national level.
The meeting also raised concerns regarding the appointment of non-engineers to engineering-related positions in government organisations, noting that such practices undermine institutional performance and violate the Pakistan Engineering Council Act. The working group urged the government to fill vacant engineering positions promptly to provide qualified engineers with employment opportunities.
Additionally, the group discussed issues including the proposed privatisation of profitable discos, service structures, and other challenges faced by engineers. It emphasised that privatisation could create further complications rather than resolving existing problems, potentially increasing concerns regarding job security and benefits.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from the Pakistan Engineering Council to remain in continuous contact with federal and provincial authorities to ensure the timely implementation of these demands.
