Paktika University
As a vital institution for educating Afghanistan’s future workforce, Paktika University has had a strong, collaborative relationship with the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), which SAE has cultivated through its local representative’s dedicated outreach and active conference participation.
Background
At the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), we consider our relationships with academic institutions in Afghanistan to be a cornerstone of our mission to enhance the country’s engineering, architectural, and scientific capacities. Among our valued institutional connections is Paktika University, an institution that plays a vital role in educating the future technical workforce of the region.
Establishing Academic Connections
Our engagement with Paktika University has been part of a broader, targeted initiative to connect with and support higher education institutions across Afghanistan. Since July 2021, our dedicated SAE representative in Afghanistan, Mr. Walid Howaida, has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between our society and Paktika University. Through his outreach efforts, we have successfully established direct lines of communication with the university’s leadership. Mr. Howaida has personally attended conferences at Paktika University to speak on behalf of SAE, promoting our shared goals of academic excellence, capacity building, and professional development for engineering students.
Beyond the Campus: Humanitarian and Infrastructure Support in Paktika
Our commitment to the Paktika region has extended beyond the walls of the university and into the heart of the community. When a devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Paktika province in June 2022, severely impacting the mountainous Geyaan and Barmal districts, we immediately mobilized our resources to assist. We successfully organized emergency fundraising campaigns, collecting vital funds to support the displaced and deeply affected families in the region.
Our representatives and members took hands-on action on the ground to ensure our support was effective and structurally sound. Mr. Walid Howaida and SAE Student Committee Chairperson Ustad Amin Mahmood traveled directly to the earthquake-affected areas in Paktika to survey the destruction and distribute our donations to the victims. During this visit, they engaged with village elders to assess immediate infrastructure needs, such as the necessity for drinking water wells, and shared vital engineering expertise with the UNHCR team, which was planning to construct thousands of homes for the displaced residents.
Furthermore, our members have shown extraordinary personal dedication to the province’s infrastructure resilience. Demonstrating exceptional humanitarian commitment, Ustad Amin Mahmood personally designed and funded the construction of a bridge in Paktika Province to help the disaster-stricken communities recover and regain connectivity.
Looking Forward
We have remained deeply committed to nurturing our relationship with Paktika University and the surrounding communities. By providing a forum for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and direct technical assistance, we have strived to empower the next generation of engineers and architects at Paktika University to lead the sustainable reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.