Policy urged for development of consultancy service
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Speakers at a workshop on Development of Consultancy Services in Pakistan Wednesday were unanimous that the government should have to adopt an adequate policy on professional consultants to sustain its reform plans.
The workshop, inaugurated by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr. Akram Shaikh, was organized by the Planning Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with the World Bank and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Pakistan.
The participants recommended that the government should have to design vision and environment, policy and institutional framework, legislation and regulation, demand for services and build own capacity to attract services.
They said the vision should be based on present characteristics of professional knowledge economy and Pakistan circumstances.
The government should involve all stakeholders and also consider creating a state council entrusted with consultant policy formulation as part of the efforts of creating a wider and deeper professional knowledge base for Pakistan. The members of the council should include members of the planning commission, the ministry of technology and HEC, the professional associations and government technocrats from critical areas, the workshop recommended. Earlier, inaugurating the workshop the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Akram Shaikh said that demand for consulting services in Pakistan has declined in recent years, particularly in infrastructure.
He said Pakistan is entering a phase of deeper and technically more demanding reforms and investment programs. “Our development has been improving significantly.”
He told the workshop that the government in collaboration with HEC is setting up nine engineering universities across the country to produce its own professional consultants and engineers. He said “we need support from development partner to develop our own consultancy services.”
The government is adopting a policy to encourage talent and professionalism, he said the output of the workshop would help the government to improve procedure of selection and management in Pakistan.
It will also help the government in establishing market compatible and enforceable rules leading client-consultant relation.