Seminar highlights key aspects of engineering contract management

RIYADH — The Institute of Engineers Pakistan, Saudi Arabian Center (IEP-SAC), organized its 46th technical seminar at a local banquet hall in Riyadh recently. The topic of the seminar was "Engineering Contract Management". Dr. Shah Faisal Kakar, counselor and head of chancery at Pakistan Embassy, Riyadh, was the chief guest. The program started with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Asim Siddiqui. General Secretary S.M. Iqbal welcomed the guests and fellow engineers on behalf of IEP-SAC. The convener of technical committee, Sheikh Asrar Ahmed, introduced the keynote speaker Yousuf Bashir Khawaja. Khawaja, a prominent FIDIC certified manager, covered all aspects of an engineering contract including offer, acceptance and consideration in his presentation. He elaborated on the scope of a contract including essentials of a contract, breach of the conditions of a contract, its effect and legal repercussions. He also explained the effect of the termination of a contract by the employer and its legal implications, including arbitration in compliance with FIDIC construction documents. In this regard, he highlighted the important and decisive role of the engineer. The presentation was well taken by the audience and was followed by a question/answer session, which comprehensively covered the topic. Chief guest Kakar, in his address, admired the high caliber of Pakistani engineers who have earned a good name for their motherland by hard work, dedication and professional skills as well as their contributions to the development of the Kingdom. Kakar stressed the need of a contract between all concerned parties. He cited Qur'anic verses in support of his observations. Syed Mubashir Kirmani, chairman of IEP-SAC, expressed his gratitude to Kakar for his presence and appreciated Khawaja's excellent presentation. He agreed that the implementation of FIDIC construction documents is acceptable in many countries of the world, especially infrastructure projects funded by banking groups. He however pointed out that for low-cost, short-term projects as well as for high value prestigious projects, as is the case in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, engineers have to draw up their own specifications and conditions of contract. The chairman expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and his government for their hospitality and providing the opportunity to Pakistani engineers to contribute their share to the development of this brotherly country. He also pledged to the government and people of Saudi Arabia that IEP-SAC shall play a positive and decisive role in achieving the objectives and targets stipulated in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 development plan. In his concluding remarks, Kirmani recalled that the vision of IEP-SAC is to promote science and engineering and promote a knowledge sharing environment among the engineering community to further enhance their capabilities. He expressed his earnest desire to expand IEP scholarship program from 88 to 99 in 2016 and appealed to the engineering community to come forward and contribute to this noble cause. A shield of appreciation was presented to the keynote speaker jointly by the chief guest and IEP-SAC chairman. The event concluded with refreshment.