The Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) have signed an agreement at PAAPAM head office to absorb 3,000 new engineering internees in the first phase.

Both the bodies also agreed to set up a joint working group to maximize localization, substitute imports and enhance exports of auto parts and engineering goods.

During the internship project of six months trainee engineers will be sponsored Rs.40,000 per month. After completing the training program, the PAAPAM members will also offer regular jobs to the graduates.

The Chairman PEC Engr Najeeb Haroon and Chairman PAAPAM Engr Abdur Razzaq Gauhar signed the agreements at a very simple but impressive ceremony witnessed by the leading industrialists, intelligentsia, and academia. Engr Nayyar Saeed Senior Vice Chairman PEC, Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, Vice Chairman PEC and Vice Chancellor, Punjab University, and Registrar PEC, Engr Dr. Nasir Mahmood Khan, Engr Dr Zahoor Sarwar Memeber GB PEC, Engr Mansour Baloch Member GB PEC, Engr Sultan Mehmood Member GB, Engr Ramzan Butt Member GB PEC, Engr Jawad Gillani Member GB PEC, Engr Mubashar Hassan, Rector QCET, Sahiwal, Cap (r) Engr Muhammad Akram, former Chairman PAAPAM, Engr Razzaq Ahmed, ex-chairman PAAPAM and MC members Syed Mansoor Abbas, Tufique Sherwani, Irfan Ahmed Qureshi, Engr Rehan Riaz, Umer Abdullah, Engr Muhammad Naseem, and Ghulam Murtaza, Secretary-General PAAPAM, also witnessed the event.

On the occasion, Chairman PAAPAM stressed that localization and export promotion was the only way to attain financial stability to avert the threats of financial default hovering over our heads. We need to ignite national spirit in ourselves to face the national and international challenges jointly, Gauhar added. Chairman PEC, Najeeb Haroon, vowed to explore all possible horizons to discharge the obligations and promote engineering activities in the country, both in academia and industries. He showed great concern over the non-placements of new engineers and showed determination to deal with it as a top agenda item.

PAAPAM Chairman said it was the need of the hour to give access to each other to create a synergistic impact on the economy. This was one of the ways to curb the outflow of foreign exchange.

It is to be noted that the PAAPAM is very active in developing such mutual arrangements with national and international institutes. Recently, it held meetings with other leading universities and some foreign institutes to promote skill and technical education in the country.