PEC Marks Landmark Milestone As First GET Cohort Graduates at NDU
Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) marked a landmark achievement with the passing-out ceremony of the first cohort of its Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET) House Job Programme, held at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. The ceremony celebrated the transition of around 510 young engineering graduates from university education to professional practice after completing a structured six-month training programme.
Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir and Deputy President NDU Rear Admiral Shafaqat Hussain Akhtar, HI(M) were the chief guests at the event.
The GET Programme introduces, for the first time in Pakistan, a structured “House Job” model for fresh engineering graduates, addressing a critical gap between academic education and professional practice. Under this six-month programme, trainees gain five months of field and industrial exposure, followed by one month of professional and soft-skills development.
The first cohort was placed across around 60 leading public and private sector organizations, with PEC providing a monthly stipend of Rs50,000 per trainee. Subsequently, approximately 510 GETs participated in the inaugural nationwide one-month professional and soft-skills training through eight centers across Pakistan.
The NDU component included the Young Engineers Personality Development Programme, focusing on leadership, communication, teamwork, conflict management, professional ethics, critical thinking, and professional development.
A notable aspect of the programme is its commitment to equal opportunity and transparency. Approximately 10% of eligible engineering graduates were selected for the first cohort through a transparent random digital balloting process, ensuring every eligible graduate had an equal chance of participation, rather than relying on discretionary selection. This approach established a transparent and replicable model for scaling the programme nationally.
As a special case, PEC accommodated 100% of eligible engineering graduates from Balochistan in the GET initiative, promoting regional inclusion and equal opportunity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir stated that the GET Programme aimed to transform fundamentally the transition from university to professional practice. He noted that the first cohort had successfully demonstrated the viability of a structured House Job model for engineers. He emphasized that the programme represented a significant investment in Pakistan’s engineering human capital, equipping young engineers with practical exposure, professional discipline, leadership skills, and essential abilities required for their future careers.