Skill Dilution in Industrial Sector

In Pakistan’s journey towards industrial self-reliance, the dwindling quality of engineering skills has reached an unprecedented low. The issue, though long evident, has now become critical. On a recent academia-industry visit, a factory owner in Lahore revealed that foreign technical managers—some earning over Rs. 10 million per month—are increasingly being hired because local talent cannot meet production or quality standards. From Gujranwala to Sialkot, the trend is the same. Despite a growing pool of engineering graduates, industries struggle to find individuals with the technical depth, innovation, and practical know-how needed to compete internationally.

Skill dilution isn’t confined to management roles. Technical workers are also being brought in from countries like Sri Lanka and the Philippines. This reflects a larger structural decay: Pakistan’s engineering education is churning out degree holders with minimal hands-on exposure, weak troubleshooting skills, and outdated technical training.

Universities continue to teach from obsolete curricula, divorced from the realities of modern industry. New graduates often lack any experience with automation, IoT, CNC machining, or advanced energy systems. Electric vehicles are entering the market, yet mechanical engineering courses remain stuck in the past. University labs lack even basic modern equipment like inverter ACs or smart refrigeration systems, while the industries they are meant to serve have moved far ahead.

Meanwhile, core engineering departments are being scaled down in favour of IT-related disciplines. Even agriculture and language universities are now offering computer science degrees, despite declining agricultural output and minimal focus on languages. Local Chambers of Commerce have offered to help universities acquire technical equipment, yet the priorities remain skewed—often favouring procurement of desktops over CNC machines.

This skew is part of a wider societal shift. Students are increasingly drawn to gig-based digital platforms like YouTube and freelancing, bypassing the demands of rigorous engineering education. The result: a generation that prefers short-term income over long-term competence. Engineering graduates now seek white-collar jobs, rarely touching the machines they were trained to manage.

Industrial losses due to technical failures can cost millions daily. And yet, Pakistan still imports basic items like pins and staples. Without technically sound managers, innovation and productivity will remain elusive. Many universities suffer from poor lab utilisation, under-qualified instructors, and weak industry ties. Internship and research programmes are either tokenistic or non-existent. Capstone projects rarely translate into viable products. Industrial Advisory Boards exist in name, not function.

Brain drain worsens the crisis. The best minds leave, and those who stay often lack mentors or growth opportunities. Universities must work harder to integrate industry, technical societies, and research foundations into their systems. Unlike Germany or Korea, where automakers have on-campus R&D centres, Pakistan—with over seven million vehicles on its roads—still cannot produce a single car engine.

To counter skill dilution, we need aligned curricula, industry collaboration, and an emphasis on design thinking and real-world problem-solving. Core engineering fields must be restored to relevance. Public-private partnerships, upgraded labs, and compulsory internships are critical. Above all, we must foster a culture of rigour, innovation, and engineering pride.

National progress is not built through shortcuts or slogans—but through skilled hands and inventive minds. Unless we invest in both, we will remain stuck assembling someone else’s future, instead of building our own.

Dr. Irfan Ahmad Gondal (TI)
The writer is the Head of Mechanical Engineering at National Skills University, Islamabad.