By: Anzalna Wazir
ARCHI TIMES (AT): Before we begin talking about your engineering, it would be good to know your educational background.
Ariff-ul-Islam: I did my schooling from PAF Model School at Shahrah e Faisal and graduated as a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from NED University in 1985. I worked for a short period with a local consultant and latter went for my Masters to New Jersey Institute of Technology, U.S.A. I started my Masters in Structures, but Project Management had gained importance then and I was attracted to it. I took additional courses for it along with structures. After completing Masters, I worked for a year with a geotechnical company in the USA working with underground structure design before returning to Pakistan in 1989.
AT: Tell us about your professional career experience, it is up and downs as you are working since so many years?
Ariff: I started my career between my Bachelors and Masters. On my return from the USA, was selected by a local structural consulting firm. NESPAK as Structural Engineer but because of an embargo on all appointments, by the then Benazir Bhutto Govt. I was unable to take up the job.
Pakistan Services Limited owners of Pearl Continental Hotels were starting a project for PC in Bhurban, and I selected as the support engineer and became part of the construction team. It was an interesting and challenging experience because back then, we didn’t have the kind of facilities or technologies we have access to today. It was perhaps the first time that some quality construction was taking place up north and we completed the project 1992.
I joined Adnan Asdar and Associates in September 1992 as an associate, and we had in mind to make a Project Management Company. Luckily, we immediately got the opportunity to work on the Holiday Inn Hotel project in Lahore, and worked with the team of Architect, Nayyar Ali Dada and the Holiday Inn team from Hong Kong, and were considered blessed to get a project of such huge scale right after forming our company. From thereon we worked harder to introduce the concept of Project Management on a wider scale.
Construction Industry has its highs and lows but the kind of projects we worked on were more of signature projects.
AT: What compelled you to pursue a career in Engineering?
Ariff: Career options were limited then and it was generally a choice between Medical or Engineering I opted for Engineering because of my strength in and passion for mathematics. MBA or BBA started trending much later with no acceptance of fields like arts or architecture. Institutes or the nature of courses were limited and Civil or Mechanical was the only fields available, Electrical was in its infancy.
I enjoy the creativity of my field, making drawings and using a calculator. As I moved forward I realized engineering enticed me and I like the permanence of it.
AT: Was there a specific experience or person that inspired you to explore engineering professionally?
Ariff: Not really! I will say I came into Project Management by default. Options are extremely diversified now but that wasn’t the case in those days.
AT: Please tell us about your firm as you are on the pioneer project management?
Ariff: Adnan, Junaid and I were young talented and qualified Engineers and initially, we had difficulty in making people understand the concept of Project Management and it took us around 5 years to get accepted. The approach to construction we had was entirely different from the conservative approach then. We divided the entire construction process right from the excavation to handing over the keys into several small packages like civil work, electrical, plumbing, etc. We developed our specialty in Project Management and started taking challenges which sets us apart from others. We were involved in deadline projects like PC hotel Lahore which was completed in time for the cricket world cup in 1996 which again was an achievement for AAA as a Project Management Company. Within a couple of years, we established AAA as a strong independent company that provided a turnkey solution in house. Another important change we brought about was that every stakeholder could focus on their work instead of trying to manage everything by themselves. For example, The Architect could design freely and let Project Management do the rest and vice versa. We were trying to let people be fully attentive to their genre of work.
AT: What was a challenging project, and how did you manage it?
Ariff: For the 27 years that the company has been in existence to date, every project has been a new challenge for us to do and provide better.
Every project that we have done has been one of its kind and that’s how we created our niche in the market. In 2000 we started doing MCB tower, the tallest building of that time. It was an extremely challenging project, but we went ahead and made it possible despite all the hurdles. We applied modern Construction methodologies and managed accordingly. It was a 1,300 million project and Alhamdulillah we finished it successfully.
There were many other challenging projects but particular mention will be made of the Islamabad Motorway Project, in which we were the first to approach the Australian Company involved in the project. A Batching Plant was required for the project and since it was not affordable, we did not give up and set about collecting bits and prices and built our own Batching Concrete Plant.
Similarly, there were challenges in every project, but we found solutions and never gave up.
AT: What percentage of work is dedicated to engineering projects, architecture design, and urban planning?
Ariff: Our role lasts from the start until the completion of the project. We give us at least more than 60% but architects have their demands and aesthetic sense, same goes for engineering and urban planning. So we try to bring them all on a similar platform and do things in a way that everyone gets what he wants without any compromise on quality. We are involved right from where the Architects draw the first line for the project to it all becoming an actual reality. We may be there before the design even begins whether it’s the plot, location, design, drawings contractor, tendering you name it and we would know exactly what is happening.
AT: If the project is not adhering to schedule, how do you get it back on track?
Ariff: We always have a Plan B for any eventuality and by Gods Grace, we were never required to apply them. At times, if the contractor is not delivering the work or the pace is slow, we strategize and manage the situation.
We even import materials if required to keep the project going. If it’s the design then we discuss with the Architect about the schedule. We come up with all these kind of contingency plans and with time we have learned how to overcome these kinds of situations.
AT: What are the considerations for building safety in terms of structure designing and what important tips you would like to give designers and the public at large?
Ariff: Health and safety requirement (HSE) is something that is of utmost importance to us and all my staff is trained. If God forbid anyone gets injured, they know how to handle it. Structural design has special requirements in terms of standards and codes, which one shouldn’t ignore. The safety engineers play an important part in it when we are working on high rises it’s not only the base or foundation that you need to work on, it’s the entire height of the building that should be safe, observing the wind pressure and a lot of other factors. We make sure that the slab achieves maximum strength required to go forward. Safety is all dependent on the way you design a project. We sit with the designer and communicate about the safety hazards on their design because human lives depend on it. Also, our methodologies of safety differ with each project, it’s requirement and nature.
AT: What’s your preferred project management methodology?
Ariff: Our methodology is first to convince and satisfy the clients about the process and procedure and then move ahead. We tell them every detail so we are on the same page in every phase. Every project is unique and Project Management is what we specialize in and how to handle the various parameters defined by every project. At times you have limited funds, labour or time. therefore, our strategy is to maintain the balance throughout to avoid mishaps. Our approach is to satisfy the client and make sure he gets what he wants and keep amending our methodologies and modules accordingly.
AT: Your firm has had a chance to work in different countries, please tell us about your experience and what differences do you see in approach?
Ariff: Luckily, we have worked with foreign consultants on many projects. Alhamdulillah, the experience has been great. We communicated well with them and the thought never occurred that we lack in any aspect. We realized that we are not far behind, it’s only the lack of technologies that is the hurdle otherwise our engineers have as much capability as theirs. One of the differences noted is that our market is cost-conscious and we compromise on the quality of the product which they do not. Also, they have an entire system and teams dedicated to each part of the building whether it is check and balance or electrical or mechanical or civil or architectural.
I and my team believe in constant training. Every year we try to send members abroad to attend exhibitions, seminars to be updated with what’s happening in the world.
AT: What kind of projects do you enjoy more? And what projects do you currently have on the boards?
Ariff: We have to stretch our horizon or vision as much as we can. I like doing mixed-use development. Projects. As Project Managers we don’t only do civil work but we have also now indulged in Mechanical work, Co-generation or Self generation. We recently managed a 22 megawatt Generation In the house. We have a lot of ongoing projects and there are many more in pipeline Alhamdulillah. We are doing. Indus Hospital with attached University, other hospital buildings highrise buildings, MCB Bank Lahore, Getz Pharmaceutical Company in Korangi. Head office of a Oil Marketing Company in Lahore, a water plant in Karachi, Bahria ICON Tower, Clifton Karachi. Renovation and face-lifting of Movenpick Hotel, Karachi.
AT: What are your best projects and why?
Ariff: Every project we have accomplished is unique and has its value. The projects that prove to be trade marked for our organization includes BT. ICON Tower (tallest building of Pakistan), UBL Head Office, Centrepoint, Ocean Mall, Faysal Bank, and Sui Southern Gas (SSGCL) Head Office in Karachi. I like small fast track projects as well like Standard Chartered Bank branches which had to be completed in 6 months.
AT: How do you feel about the standard of engineering education at our institutions?
Ariff: Yes, the standards have declined and things are not as good as they used to be. Back in our days the quality and mindset of engineers were much more sorted out and they knew far more than today’s graduates. The academics need to be seriously worked at and upgraded, not only by the government but the institutions and faculty itself. Courses should be planned, new facilities should be introduced, students should be taught about contracts which are given no attention by universities and then students suffer in the harsh reality of the field.
AT: What do you have future plans?
Ariff: Future plans are to inculcate digital technologies and visual reality in our projects which will resolve a lot of construction issues. This is the Building Information Modeling (BIM) that I am referring to. We will involve software that can construct the building virtually and give us in-depth detail about it. You can walk through the virtual building, feel it, be in it and resolve /understand any queries. This will ensure minimal chances of hazards, disruptions and as a result speed of work will increase. We are also widely using PROCORE technology at all our projects. This helps effective and timely coordination amongst all the project stakeholders resulting in cohesive Project Management.
AT: Any message for young professionals?
Ariff: They should be consistent and work hard. There are going to be ups and downs in career but you should embrace them like a warrior. Learn from your mentors and start practicing and getting ready to face the reality of the field instead of learning the convenient chapters in books to pass just an examination.
AT: What are your comments on the starting of this NEWAGE Cables Engineers series? Do you think young professionals particularly students will be benefitted?
Ariff: Yes! Most definitely this Newage Engineers Series is going to make a difference. We all will get to know about each other’s journey’s and the same goes for fresh graduates. They will know who to go to for which branch of the field. This series will provide a path towards their success and understand that things always work out for those who don’t give up.
