Islamabad: Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has achieved a landmark milestone with the passing out of the first batch of Chartered Project Directors (Ch. PDs) at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, marking a major step towards professionalizing project leadership and improving the planning, governance and delivery of complex engineering projects in Pakistan.
The Chartered Project Director Certification Programme was conceived, designed and spearheaded under the vision of PEC Chairman Engr. Waseem Nazir, with the objective of developing professional Project Directors capable of taking ownership, making timely and informed decisions, strengthening governance and accountability, and delivering measurable results.
The programme is being positioned as the first initiative of its kind in South Asia focused on certification of Project Directors at this level. It addresses longstanding challenges in Pakistan’s project landscape, including delays, cost overruns, weak decision-making, contractual disputes and governance gaps.
The certified Project Directors have been equipped with advanced competencies in project governance, strategic decision-making, risk management, contract administration, dispute avoidance, cost and schedule control, transparency and accountability.
The passing-out ceremony was held at NDU, with President NDU Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar as the chief guest.
Addressing the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar termed the Ch. PD initiative an ‘iconic project’ and acknowledged that it had been conceived and designed by PEC Chairman Engr. Waseem Nazir. He appreciated PEC’s efforts to introduce a structured certification framework for project leadership and highlighted its potential to positively impact Pakistan’s development landscape.
He further stated that NDU would formally report the initiative for consideration of government intervention, with a view to making certified Project Director competency a compulsory requirement for complex engineering projects.
The President NDU also emphasized that the Planning Commission should give serious consideration to the initiative in the context of improving project planning, governance and delivery.
PEC acknowledged NDU for its valuable partnership, institutional support and contribution to the successful implementation of the pioneering programme. The PEC-NDU collaboration demonstrates the potential of strategic institutional partnerships to develop high-calibre professional leadership for national development.
Leading public and private sector organizations nominated their high-potential senior engineers for the first cohort, reflecting strong confidence in the programme and its national relevance.
Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir has championed the transformation of project leadership from an administrative assignment into a specialized, accountable and certified professional responsibility.
The initiative is expected to create a strong pool of Chartered Project Directors capable of translating national development priorities into measurable outcomes, on time, within cost and with stronger governance.
The passing out of the first cohort therefore marks not only the completion of a certification programme but also the beginning of a new era of professional project leadership in Pakistan.
PEC congratulated all newly certified Ch. PDs, partner organizations and NDU on contributing to the landmark achievement.
