20/07/2026
NEC and NEA jointly organized a Panel Discussion Session on the occasion of 64th Engineers’ Day in Kathmandu : On the occasion of the 64th Engineers’ Day on July 19, 2026, the Nepal Engineering Council (NEC), in collaboration with the Nepal Engineers' Association (NEA), hosted a panel discussion on “Role of Professional Engineering Societies in Nation Building” in Kathmandu.
The session was chaired by Prof. Padam Bahadur Shahi, Chairperson of NEC, and moderated by Dr. Reshma Shrestha. The distinguished panel featured key industry leaders:
• Er. Satya Narayan Shah, President, Society of Mechanical Engineers Nepal (SOMEN)
• Er. Dr. Hare Ram Shrestha, President, Society of Transportation Engineers Nepal (SoTEN)
• Ar. Ishwar Lal Joshi, President, Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA)
• Er. Birodh Rijal, Founder and CEO, Integrated ICT Pvt. Ltd.
In his keynote address, Prof. Shahi highlighted the pivotal role of professional engineering societies in driving national progress, emphasizing four main pillars of engagement:
Core Pillars of Professional Engagement
• Technical Governance & Policy Formulation: Serving as non-partisan, evidence-based think tanks, engineering societies advise the government on infrastructure and policy. They establish and enforce regulatory codes to ensure public safety and align national standards with international benchmarks.
• Human Capital Development: Societies bridge the gap between academic theory and practical industry needs through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs. They also foster mentorship ecosystems to pass critical technical knowledge to future leaders.
• Accountability, Ethics, & Institutional Trust: By enforcing strict ethical standards and disciplining malpractice, these bodies protect citizens from substandard work and corruption. Additionally, they translate complex technical data for the public, empowering informed civic engagement.
• Economic Innovation & Global Integration: Through R&D funding, conferences, and technical publications, professional societies spur local innovation. Aligning local qualifications with global accords helps domestic engineers compete internationally and attracts foreign investment.