ISLAMABAD-UNS : The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has achieved a historic milestone with the passing out of the first batch of Chartered Project Directors (Ch.PDs) at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad—a decisive step towards certifying project leadership and transforming the way strategic and complex engineering projects are planned, governed and delivered in Pakistan.
Conceived, designed and spearheaded under the vision of Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir, the Chartered Project Director Certification Programme marks a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s project leadership landscape.
It aims to develop Project Directors who take ownership, make timely and informed decisions, strengthen governance and accountability, and deliver measurable results.
The programme is being positioned as the first initiative of its kind in South Asia dedicated to certification of Project Directors at this level. It directly confronts persistent challenges in Pakistan’s project landscape, including delays, cost overruns, weak decision-making, contractual disputes and governance gaps.
Certified Project Directors are 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 Islamabad, with President NDU, Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the ceremony, the President NDU termed the Ch.PD initiative an “iconic project” and acknowledged that it was conceived and designed by Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir.
He appreciated PEC’s efforts to introduce a structured certification framework for project leadership and emphasized its potential impact on Pakistan’s development landscape.
Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar further stated that NDU will 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. He also emphasized that the Planning Commission should take this initiative very seriously in the context of improving project planning, governance and delivery.
PEC strongly acknowledges NDU for its valuable partnership, institutional support and contribution to successfully delivering this pioneering programme. The PEC–NDU collaboration demonstrates how strategic institutional partnerships can 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 initiative 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 converting national development priorities into measurable outcomes—on time, within cost and with stronger governance.
The passing out of the first cohort is therefore not merely the completion of a certification programme; it is the launch of a new era of project leadership in Pakistan.
PEC congratulates all newly certified Ch.PDs, partner organizations and NDU for contributing to this landmark achievement.
