AJK government and PEC are launching a six-month Graduate Engineer Trainee Program to give fresh engineers hands-on training across key public departments.
PEC and AJK government join hands for young engineers
The Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) have taken a major step to support fresh engineering graduates by launching the PEC Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET) Placement Program in the region.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Planning and Development Department of AJK and PEC to implement the program across key engineering departments. The MoU was signed by Head Corporate Affairs Unit PEC Engr Muhammad Sohail Khan and Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Atif Rahman, in the presence of PEC Chairman Engr Waseem Nazir and Chief Secretary AJK Kushal Khan. Senior officials, including Registrar PEC Engr Khadim Hussain Bhatti, also attended the ceremony.
The agreement is being seen as an important milestone for the engineering community in AJK, as it creates a structured pathway for young engineers to gain experience in the public sector soon after graduation.
How the Graduate Engineer Trainee Program will work?
The Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET) Program has been designed on the model of the house job system commonly used for medical graduates. Under this framework, engineering graduates will undergo a six-month training cycle that combines field work with professional development.
According to PEC Chairman Engr Waseem Nazir, the program will include five months of supervised, field-based learning at different engineering departments, followed by one month focused on soft skills development. This last phase is aimed at improving communication, teamwork, problem-solving and workplace ethics, which are essential for success in modern organisations.
The overall objective is to enhance the employability and technical competence of fresh engineers, so that they are better prepared to meet the growing and changing demands of the engineering sector in Pakistan and abroad.
Key AJK departments where trainees will be placed
Under the MoU, the Planning and Development Department of AJK will place graduate engineers in a range of important public sector organisations. These include technical, infrastructure and planning-focused departments that handle major development projects in the region.
Departments identified for trainee placements include the Central Design Office (CDO), Communication and Works (Highways), Physical Planning and Housing / Public Health Engineering, the Planning and Development Department itself, the Electricity Department AJK, the Power Development Organization, the Machinery Division (PWD), and the Information Technology (IT) Department of the AJK government.
By rotating young engineers through these departments, the program will expose them to real-world projects in roads and highways, housing and water supply, power generation and distribution, public buildings, machinery, and government IT systems. This experience is expected to give trainees a better understanding of how large-scale public projects are planned, designed and executed.
Bridging the gap between classroom and field
Chief Secretary AJK Kushal Khan highlighted that the initiative will help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application. While universities provide theoretical knowledge and basic lab exposure, many graduates struggle when they first enter the field and face real project deadlines, site conditions and coordination challenges.
Through the GET Program, trainees will work under experienced engineers and department heads, allowing them to apply classroom concepts to actual projects. This structured mentorship is expected to build confidence, sharpen technical skills and improve decision-making in the field.
For public sector institutions in AJK, the program will also strengthen technical capacity. Trained engineers who understand government procedures, procurement rules and project management practices can contribute more effectively to development projects and service delivery across the region.
Long-term benefits for AJK’s development
The signing of the MoU is widely viewed as a positive step toward building a skilled, confident and industry-ready engineering workforce in AJK. As more batches of trainees complete the program, the region can expect a growing pool of engineers who are familiar with both technical standards and local development needs.
In the long run, such initiatives can support faster and better-quality implementation of infrastructure projects, from roads and bridges to water supply schemes, energy systems and digital services. When young engineers are properly trained and guided early in their careers, they are more likely to take on lead roles in designing and managing future projects.
By working closely together, PEC and the Government of AJK are setting an example of how professional bodies and public institutions can collaborate to invest in human capital. For fresh engineering graduates in AJK, the Graduate Engineer Trainee Placement Program opens a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience, build networks and start their careers on a stronger footing.
