Experts suggest govt to assign probe to PEC

KARACHI: Leading engineering consultants have suggested the federal government to assign the investigation into the Shershah bridge collapse to Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan (ACEP) and Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) office bearers were addressing a joint press conference on Friday.

ACEP President Inam Ahmed Osmani and IEP Chairman Jamshed Rizvi said the PEC was the only authorised body to hold inquiries into the professional conduct of registered and consulting engineers, and other professionals.

The PEC was the statutory body having the power to constitute as many tribunals as required to hold such inquiries, they said.

The constituted tribunal could recommend imposition of penalty on the engineers and could also recover an amount as compensation not exceeding the amount received by the respondent from the complainant, they informed.

Osmani said the associations have requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to involve PEC in the inquiry and his response was awaited. The government could ask the PEC to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit report, he added.

He pointed out that only three out of seven members of the inquiry team have signed the report, which does not comply with international standards on forensic engineering investigation.

ACEP president said that no professional would deliberately make a faulty design, which may jeopardise his personal and the organisation’s image.

He said this was a technical matter, which was beyond the comprehension of the police department.