Speakers at an interactive session held at the Institution of Engineers Pakistan called for leading role of engineering community in the country’s socio-economic development on Sunday. They opined that public sectors’ institutions engaged in development work should be led by competent engineers for achieving better results. They emphasised that leadership and managerial qualities should be developed among the young engineers, so that they could play on the front in carrying out development-related activities at national level. The session, arranged in collaboration with Karakorum International University, Gilgit-Baltistan was presided over by the centre’s chairman Hafiz M Ehsanul Haq Qazi. The university’s vice chancellor Dr Attaullah Shah was the resource person who gave a detailed presentation on the topic of Engineering Leadership and urged educational institutions to play their role in promoting leadership qualities among the young generation. The event was a part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) arranged by the centre to create awareness among the engineers, other professionals and public at large about the issues of public importance. It also provides opportunities to young engineers to meet their seniors and learn from their expertise, experience and technical knowledge. The speakers including CPD Head Captain Najamuddin suggested that the universities’ curriculum should contain educative and motivation contents for the development of leadership qualities among the youth. They contended that professionally the engineers, heading national institutions are competent enough to perform their duties, but they lack managerial expertise in achieving desired results. Dr Attaullah Shah was of the opinion that the leading people should have essential human qualities, like patience, honesty, individual commitment, self-awareness and positive approach to their work. Published in Daily Times, November 26th 2018.