Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Eng. Farhan Al-Shammari, secretary-general of the Saudi Council of Engineers, said that as many as 2,799 expatriate engineers of different nationalities, face prosecution after their engineering and technical certificates were found to be forged. They will be referred to the concerned authorities for taking punitive measures against them, he said.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Eng. Al-Shammari said that the council has been working for years to catch violators and unqualified hands who have intruded into the engineering and technical professions.

“This is in line with an advanced plan to eliminate those who practice, without the required qualifications, in technical and professional work that needed the highest levels of credibility and quality,” he said. Al-Shammari emphasized the importance of exposing unqualified technicians and assistant engineers who pose a big risk to the safety of the projects in which they are working and thus causing much negativity that affects the quality and output of the engineering and construction sector.

Al-Shammari said that the council is closely monitoring anyone who is trying to tamper with the capabilities and economy of the nation by presenting forged certificates to obtain jobs in the building and construction sector. “The names of those who submitted forged certificates will be sent to the competent authorities for punishing them and stoping them from pursuing technical and engineering works,” he said.

Al-Shammari said the recent directive of Acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Majed Al-Hoqail to the council to conduct professional examinations for foreign engineers comes from his confidence in the professional standard that the council enjoys in terms of its key role in supervising engineering and technical professionals for many years. The minister’s directive came after assigning to the council the task of preparing and improving professional exams for expatriates in engineering professions.

He said that the council has offered programs and activities concerned with controlling professional work in the Kingdom. “The council is also working to create opportunities for those who possess professional and technical knowledge including Saudis and professionals from Arab and foreign countries. This is part of the initiatives being taken by the council for the benefit of professional and technical engineers with a high level of competence and real field experience, he added.