SAE Newsletter – July 2023, Volume 13, Issue 3, Saratan 1402

SAE Mission

To present a forum for Afghan engineers, architects and scientists in the sharing of experiences and knowledge and foster the promotion of scientific, architectural and engineering ethics in our quests to enhance Afghan capacities in these fields for the service of Afghanistan and the well being of the people.

Contents

• Acting Editor’s Note
• Message From the President of SAE
• Message from the Chairman of the SAE Board of Directors
• SAE Election, 2023
• SAE Executive Report No. 36, Election Committee
• SAE Executive Action No. 37, SAE General Assembly Meeting
• SAE Reports from Afghanistan, By Walid Howaida, SAE Rep.
• Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow/AEBT, By Ghulam Feda
• SAE Executive Activity, An Update on Bamiyan Housing
• SAE Sample Letters and Certificates to Bamiyan Housing Winners
• Study of Kabul Aquifers, By Sayed A. Azimi
• Engineering/Architecture Job Opportunities, By Planate Management
• The SAE Membership Renewal
• The Society of Afghan Engineers Organization
• The SAE Membership Applications
• Membership News
• SAE Membership Payment

Note From the Acting Editor-in-Chief, SAE eNewsletter

Dear Readers of SAE eNewsletter

I am humbled and honored to undertake the responsibility of acting as an Editor-in-Chief of the SAE eNewsletter until a new appointment is made.

I would like to dedicate this page to honor the hard work, dedication and professionalism of our dear Ustad Hafizullah Wardak who served successfully as the Editor-in-Chief of the SAE eNewsletter designing producing and distributing the SAE Newsletter on time and with quality of design and content in the past two years. Since July 2021 when Ustad Mujtaba Khan resigned from his post as the SAE Editor-in-Chief, Ustad Wardak Sahib served as the new Editor-in-Chief and produced nine (9) consecutive successful issues of the Newsletter. Being and serving as the Editor-in-Chief is a very tedious, stressful job and it requires a lot of time and attention to the details and accuracy of the content to be published in each issue of the Newsletter.

As Ustad Wardak Sahib indicated in his resignation message in the last issue of the SAE Newsletter, we understood his reasoning to take time off of the responsibilities of publishing the SAE Newsletter and focus on finishing and completing the engineering textbooks for the students at Afghan Universities.

Najim M. Azadzoi, AIA
Acting Editor-in-Chief/SAE President

Prof. Hafizullah Wardak worked with Boeing Aerospace Company for 30 years as Technical Fellow in structures. During the 30 years with Boeing, he worked as technical leader on the International Space Station, (NASA programs) and every new model airplane (737, 747, 767, 777, 787) at the Boeing Company. Prior to joining Boeing, he worked for two years with the United Technologies on the Space Transportation System (another NASA program), and six years as a structural engineer specialist on nuclear power plant projects with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago.

In Afghanistan, he was a professor of the civil engineering department at the Faculty of Engineering of Kabul University, and deputy-chairman of the Afghan Seismological Center Kabul.

His recent book “Structural Analysis” in Pushto language was published and released in Kabul, Afghanistan and will be used as a textbook at Afghan universities. His co-author of this book was Dr. Z. Baha.

He was a member of the SAE Board of Directors for six years.

With Regards,

Message From the President of SAE

July 2023

Members of the Society of Afghan Engineers

One behalf of the Society, I wish you all a happy and joyful Eid-Qurban (Eid-al-Adha). On this occasion may Allah bless you, the entire Muslim communities around the world and our beloved people back at home with peace and prosperity. We pray for progress and prosperity in our beloved home Country, Afghanistan. “Eid Mubarak”

During the second quarter of the year 2023, SAE has achieved:

• The Bamiyan International Students Housing Competition team, headed by Professor Bashir Kazimee, completed the distribution of Certificates and Awards to the Winners of the Competition.
  • The first, second, and third place winners from China and Indonesia received their Certificates and Cash awards. Certificates and the Cash awards were sent to the school advisors and ceremonies were held in the prospective schools.
  • Similarly, four young women from architecture department of Kabul University, five member-team of Sharjah University and a second five-member team of Sharjah University UAE, one student from University of Hartford USA, one student from Liverpool University of China and a two-member team from Effat University of Saudi Arabia received their Certificates and cash Awards.
  • It was sad to learn that the four-member team from Kabul University, all young women graduate, were banned from going to school or obtaining a job as architects. Fortunately, with the help of SAE representative, Mr. Walid Howaida, were able to arrange a ceremony for the four young women winners in the presence of a group of young Afghan professionals in Kabul and the Certificates and Awards were distributed. Congratulations to our four young women winners.

SAE Election 2023 is underway. Mr. Atiq Panjshiri chairs the election committee along with four members of the election committee. Dr. Saleh Keshawarz, Mr. Qaseem Naimi, Mr. Nazir Babacarkhial, and Mr. Fayeq Fasihi. Please participate in the election process and nominate yourself or someone you choose to be nominated for future officers of the Society. Election is one of the most important events of the Society that happens every three years.

SAE General Assembly Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern Time (New York Time). Mr. Hadi Rakin and Mr. Gul Afghan Saleh both members of the Board of Directors are in charge of organizing and preparing the agenda of the Meeting. Please contact Mr. Rakin and Mr. Saleh and propose your topics to be included in the presentations.

The Society, in collaboration with Engineer Feda of Afghan Education for Better Tomorrow (AEBT), have provided online training courses on a variety of engineering topics to Universities in Afghanistan. Many thanks to Professor Sabor Rahim, Engineer Sahib, Ustad Amin Mahmood, and Engineer Sahib Amanullah Mommandi for taking parts in presenting several topics.

With Regards,

Najim M. Azadzoi, AIA
SAE President

Message From the Chairman, SAE Board of Directors

Dear Readers of the SAE eNewsletter

By the time you read this message, you may have already received notification from the Election Committee for the nominations of the nine members of the Board of Directors and that of the President. But before submitting your own candidacy, or nominating another member, review the prevailing Bylaws to ensure that you follow specific nomination requirements outlined in its articles.

The board of directors is a group of individuals who are elected to govern and oversee the organization’s operations. As their duty, the board is responsible for setting the organization’s mission, strategy, and goals, and ensures that the organization operates in compliance with its Bylaws and ethical standards. The board of directors is also responsible for appointing the organization’s president from the list of nominees proposed by the members.

As stated above, the nine members of the Board are elected positions and require nomination and voting by regular members. Quoted below are articles 4.1 and 4.3.1 of the current Bylaws related to the Board of Directors.

4.1 The Board of Directors shall consist of nine (9) members who will be elected by SAE regular members. Board members select from among themselves a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary of the Board of Directors in the first meeting of the Board. After the selection of the Chairperson, the Board of Directors appoints the new President by selecting a candidate from the list of the candidates previously prepared by the Election Committee.

4.3.1 Each regular member may vote for only one of the candidates nominated for the Board of Directors. Nine candidates who receive the highest number of votes will serve the three-year term as members of the Board of Directors.

For more on the elections, you are encouraged to refer to Section 6 of the 2022 Bylaws.

Happy Eid and wish you all a joyful and healthy summer ahead.

Sincerely,

Abdul Manan Khalid, P.E., LEED (BD+C), Chairman, SAE Board of Directors

SAE Election 2023

A Message from the Election Committee

Dear members of the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE): Hope that you and your respected family are well.

It is election time at the Society of Afghan Engineers, the organization that was established about 30 years ago with the mission to create a non-profit independent professional organization where Afghan Engineers and Architects come together as unified resource in helping build our beloved Country Afghanistan. Over the past 30 years together we have achieved many of the goals, but a lot remain on our agenda for reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Now is time for all of you to get involved and be part of this noble cause. Maybe it is time to give a new face and a new direction to the Society in making a difference in the lives of the people and/or the communities in Afghanistan. Whatever the reason may be, this is your Society, so get involved and change it for a better future.

Please note that according to the Society’s bylaws, only active members can participate in the elections. An active member is considered an eligible individual who has paid their SAE membership dues in accordance with the current Bylaws. Please refer to the latest bylaws for detailed information.

Sincerely,

Atiq Panjshiri, Chairman of the Election Committee
M. Fayeq Fasihi, Member, Election Committee

SAE Executive Action No. 36, SAE Election 2023

April 1, 2023

Election Committee

In email/online voting polls, the Board of Directors approved the nomination of Mr. Atiq Panjshiri as the Chairperson of the SAE 2023 Election Committee.

Subsequently, nominations of four members of the Election Committee were approved by the Board of Directors. They are:

1. Dr. Saleh Keshawarz
2. Mr. Nazir Babacarkhial
3. Mr. Qaseem Naimi
4. Mr. Fayeq Faizi

Qualifications of all four members were verified and they are active members of the Society and had served the Society in different capacities in the past.

Election Committee Responsibilities

• As per SAE Bylaws, the Committee is responsible for conducting the nomination and election process of the Society Officers.
• Prepare the list of nominees submitted by Members for elective offices.
• Schedule and start the election process at times so the results will be announced prior to the fifteen day of December of 2023.

I, on behalf of the Society congratulate you and your team and looking forward to an exciting, transparent and fair election process in 2023

Najim Azadzoi, SAE President, March 30, 2023

SAE Executive Action No. 37, May 1, 2023

SAE General Assembly Meeting

In a meeting of the SAE Board of Directors on April 27, 2023, it was decided to hold the SAE 2023 General Assembly Meeting on September 16, 2023. The meeting will be Virtual via Zoom and the exact time and agenda of the meeting will be announced soon.

As per SAE Manual 2010, a Subcommittee under the name of “Conference and Training” exists to plan for the Society conferences.

During the meeting Mr. Hadi Rakin and Mr. Gul Afghan Saleh were invited to lead this subcommittee and plan for organizing this year’s General Assembly.

Najim Azadzoi, AIA. SAE President.

SAE Reports From Afghanistan

By Walid Howaida, SAE Rep.

NO	INQUIRIES/ DATES	THE REPORT
13	Date: 06/14/2023 Reception ceremony for the Architecture students of the Faculty of Engineering of Kabul University. June 25, 2023	A ceremony was held at a restaurant on June 8, 2023 for the architecture students of the Faculty of Engineering of Kabul University who were awarded with “Honorary Mention” for their participation and quality of design for the Bamiyan Housing Competition. The participating students were invited and it also was an opportunity to have discussions with them. The students discussed the future of the Bamiyan project related to the discussions in the last online meeting. In that meeting, it was recommended that for implementation of Bamiyan housing project, SAE will seek funding from feasible sources.

During April to June 2023 the following activities have been done in Afghanistan.

1. Provision of information about Kabul historic Irrigation intakes and canals for Mommandi sahib’s research.
2. Coordination for distribution of certificates and prizes ceremony of the female architects of the engineering faculty of Kabul university for the Bamyan Housing competition.
3. Coordination with Kabul engineering faculty and Mr. Feda’s engineering teams for activation of internet network and provision of solar energy for the engineering faculty of Kabul university’s IT lab and conference hall.
4. Participation SAE online meeting.

Walid Howaid, SAE Representative in Afghanistan

Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow (AEBT)

In March 2023, Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow (AEBT) and The Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), two like-minded non-profit organizations dedicated to enhancing the future of Afghanistan, jointly launched a tele-education initiative for undergraduate upperclassmen engineering students at Kabul University and Khost University.

Filling a gap in the curriculum at both schools, this pioneering collaboration offers a series of seminars, or workshops, to help interested students further their personal, educational, and professional goals. Developed and staffed entirely by Afghan engineers, this highly successful project is providing a functional and stable example in the region; and improving the quality of learning by making distinguished speakers accessible to young and dynamic Afghans. The methodologies employed are replicable and fully exportable to other resource-constrained settings in Afghanistan. The teaching platform consists of video conferencing software and dedicated internet which provide superb and uninterrupted connection between geographically dispersed instructors and students.

The seminars are enthusiastically attended – with frequently more than 50 students present, who are keen to absorb the penetrating insights of respected engineering specialists – and open to faculty and staff as well. The students are given participation certificates afterwards as a token of appreciation and with the hope that it will give them an incentive to build the kinds of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and resilience needed to navigate an uncertain future and drive transformative change in Afghanistan.

With this undertaking, AEBT, SAE, and their forward-thinking partners at Kabul University and Khost University are reimagining higher education in Afghanistan, which can only help to energize and unlock the full potential of its youth and create limitless opportunities for them. Tele-education is emerging as an efficient tool to bring academic courses and training programs to a long-suffering country. It is the promise of science and technology, and innovative solutions, that will enable Afghanistan to overcome crippling development challenges including massive poverty, inequality, and food insecurity, and pave the way for brighter days ahead.

Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow (AEBT), a US-based 501 c3 nonprofit organization focused on Afghanistan, is seeking a grant to sustain and possibly expand its Tele-education project with the objective of helping as many at-risk students in Afghanistan as possible build their overall academic skills (in the sciences and humanities) to match their peers around the world. AEBT’s pilot program at Herat University has proven extremely successful, harnessing the power of modern telecommunications technology to respond to the educational needs of global students. World class instructors in remote locations relate to students in Afghanistan in a seamless, stable, and secure manner. AEBT’s goal is to keep this nascent project going and build on its early successes to try to reach even more students across Afghanistan.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering with BSEE from Kabul University, Faculty of Engineering, Ghulam M Feda has more than 35 years of leadership experience in industrial R&D projects including but not limited to organizational efficiency. He has also served on the advisory boards of several state colleges and universities, he is co-founder and the president/CEO of Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow, an organization at the forefront of developing and delivering educational resources to war-torn Afghanistan.

He has been the recipient of a patent award in “Glass Technology” and a Congressional award for his work in the implementation of innovative energy efficiency projects, he is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (CLSSBB).

Engineer Feda is passionate about projects that make promising uses of technology to transform education (e.g., tele-education) primarily to foster deeper learning in underserved and under-resourced communities in parts of the world where the need is greatest.

An avid traveler, Mr. Feda has written several articles on the architectural techniques of ancient civilizations and about Afghan history and culture.

SAE Executive Activity: An Update on Bamiyan Housing

Distribution of the Awards and Certificates

Brief of the Bamiyan SAE International Student Design Competition: Final Phase and Awards

On behalf of the Bamiyan International Student Competition Committee, we are pleased to inform that the jurors for the Bamiyan International Student Design Competition have completed their evaluation of the competition proposals from around the world and the winners are publicly announced.

We have received a total of twenty-three entries from eleven universities worldwide, including three universities from Afghanistan. After thorough deliberation and evaluation of the submissions, following the “criteria for evaluation,” the jury has carefully chosen the top three projects deserving of the first, second, and third prizes. Additionally, six projects have been recommended for honorable mention.

We want to express that both the competition organizer committee and the jury members were remarkably impressed with the quality, thoughtfulness, and effort that students devoted to their proposals. We want to congratulate all the winners, their selection was based on careful consideration, and quality of their proposals.

As of today, all the winners have received their cash prizes as outlined in the competition brief, along with an elegantly designed SAE Certificate of Achievement. Each certificate features a breathtaking panoramic scene of Bamiyan and has been forwarded to the respective winning teams. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that the prizes and certificates were presented to the winners during a formal award ceremony organized by the university’s advisors.

The award money is supported by the generous donations of the Kazimee Family charity Funds and Toba Roshan Education Funds. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to them for funding this important cause. In addition, we would like to extend our gratitude to numerous esteemed members of the SAE for their generous contributions to the competition fund, which have greatly assisted us in achieving our funding goals.

The following chart represent the top three winners and the six honorable mentions:

Grade	University, Student and Advisors Names	Award Amount
1st Place	University: Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University: Department of Architecture. Student: 1. Kaiqing Tan. Faculty advisor: Prof. Gergely Csikvari	$2,500 (China)
2nd Place	University: University Sebelas Maret of Surakarta: Department of Architecture/Engineering. Student Team: 1. Trevi Marisa, 2. Adesti Ulfatunnisa, 3. Yulita Devina. Faculty advisor: Dr. Eng. Kusumaningdyah Nurul Handayani	$1,500 (Indonesia)
3rd Place	University: Nanjing Tech University: Dept. of Architecture and Urban Design College of Architecture. Student Team: 1. Yuxing WU, 2. Yang ZHANG, 3. Tianyi CHEN. Faculty advisor: Prof. Dr. Longbin Zhu	$1,000 (China)
Honorary Mention	University: American University of Sharjah: Department of Architecture. Student Team: 1. Zainab Oghai Gawhari, 2. Razan Nabil Almajid, 3. Ahmad Khalil Ammar, 4. Ranya Aysha, 5. Rabab Al-Ali. Faculty advisor: Prof. George Newlands	$300 (UAE)
Honorary Mention	University: American University of Sharjah: Department of Architecture. Student Team: 1. Nada Hani Barqawi, 2. Meera Tareq Lootah, 3. Mrinaalini Nagaraja, 4. Tala Alsakka-Amini, 5. Sabiha Ameen. Faculty advisor: Prof. George Newlands	$300 (UAE)
Honorary Mention	University: Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University: Department of Architecture. Student: 1. Shuyang Li. Faculty advisor: Prof. Gergely Csikvari	$300 (China)
Honorary Mention	University: Kabul University Architecture Department. Student Team: 1. Hoda Amini, 2. Lima Hamza, 3. Diana Anwaeri, 4. Salma Sharif. Faculty advisor: Naweed Ahmad Hashemi	$1,600 (Afghanistan)
Honorary Mention	University: University of Hartford: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering. Student: 1. Vivek Parek. Faculty advisor: Prof. Stephen Charles Smith	$300 (USA)
Honorary Mention	University: Effat University: Collage of Architecture and Design. Student Team: 1. Sabeen Alharthi, 2. Lina S. Abouelnaga. Faculty advisors: Dr. Yassmein H. Abdalla & Ms. Majd Alnafie	$300 (Saudi Arabia)

Jury members

1. Dr Daniela Ottmann: Associate Professor, Centre for Comparative Construction Research, Bond University, Australia.
2. Samia Rab Kirchner, PhD: Associate Professor of Urban Design and Interim Chair, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
3. Joseph Ashmore: Senior Emergency Post Crisis Partnerships Specialist, International Organization for Migration, Washington DC., USA
4. Professor Rafi Samizay, AIA: Professor Emeritus, Washington State University, School of Architecture and Construction Management, USA.
5. Dr. Reinhard Goethert: MIT, School of Architecture, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Rehousing Cave Dwellers of Bamiyan – Selected Proposals

Community Development Strategies

• Natural turnover of industrial structure
• Functional turnover of space

In the first 1-5 years, residents can achieve self-sufficiency through the primary industry and complete the initial economic accumulation. At this time, business gradually formed a scale in the community, replacing the original simple market model of barter, laying the foundation for the condensation and further expansion of the community.

In the period of 5-10 years, the technology-oriented industry gradually matured and became the pillar industry of the community economy. The impact of the education industry began to manifest. The original primary industry land was transformed into commercial and community public space at this stage, and the quality of life of residents was significantly improved.

In the period of 10-20 years, with the stability of Afghanistan’s political situation and national status, the tourism industry has returned to normal. At this time, the Bamiyan Buddha should also be repaired, which can be used as a cultural symbol to attract tourists. At this time, the industry dominated by culture will become the main competitiveness of the Bamiyan region. As an area with high technology and education level, the community can achieve excellent development in the cultural industry.

Once again, on behalf of the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) and the Competition Organizer Committee, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to the respected jury members for their hard work and careful deliberation to review and select the winning projects for the Bamiyan International Student Design Competition.

Sincerity,

Bashir Kazimee, AIA
Professor Emeritus, Washington State University
Chairperson: SAE-Architecture and Planning Division

Competition Organizer Members:
Najim Azadzoi, SAE President
Professor Mehdi Sabet
Professor Rafi Rafi Samizay
Dr. Reinhard Goethert
Donya Amiri, PE, TE
Professor Bashir Kazimee (Chair)

SAE Sample Letters and Certificates to Bamiyan Housing Winners

May 4, 2023
Kabul University Architecture Department
Faculty advisor: Naweed Ahmad Hashemi
Group Email: hodahassib@gmail.com
1. Huda Amini
2. Lima Hamza
3. Diana Anwari
4. Salma Sharif
Afghanistan

Dear Professor, Naweed Ahmad Hashemi and Team members:

Once again, I like to extend my sincere congratulations to the winning team from your school under your expert guidance and leadership.

We have recently contacted the competition-winning teams to facilitate the transfer of their prize money. However, the competition task members have proposed that the prize money and certificate of achievement be sent directly to the team to be distributed to the students in their schools, possibly through an awards ceremony. If this proposal is agreeable to you, we would be delighted to send the certificates directly to Mr. Walid Howaida, SAE representative in Afghanistan and arrange for the cash amount to be transferred to you through Western Union or any other preferred method.

Please inform us of your decision regarding this arrangement.

Sincerity,
Najim M. Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President

May 4, 2023
Kabul University Architecture Department
Faculty advisor: Naweed Ahmad Hashemi
To: Huda Amini, Lima Hamza, Diana Anwari, & Salma Sharif
Afghanistan

Dear Professor Naweed Ahmad Hashemi and Team Members:

Once again, I like to extend my sincere congratulations to the winning team from your school under your expert guidance and leadership. Our first-place winner is a woman student, Ms. Kaiqing Tan, from the Liverpool University in China with a cash prize of $2,500 USD. The second-place winners are three students, Trevi Marisa, Adesti Ultatunnisa, and Yulita Devina from the University Sebelas Maret of Surakarta, Indonisia with a cash prize of $1,500 USD. And, our third-place winners are Yuxing WU, Yang Zhang, and Tianyi Chen, from the NanJing University, also from China with a cash prize of $1,000.

The Jury decided to select six (6) other projects and awarded them as “HONORARY MENTIONS” for the quality of design and their dedication to the competition. Due to our limited budget where the fund was donated by members of the Society of Afghan Engineers, we have the honor to award your team with a small cash prize of $1,600, ($400 each student). We know it is small amount, but it certainly expresses our sincere thanks and appreciation of your time and dedication to the project and the competition. You will also receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Society.

Najim M. Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President

Study of Kabul Aquifers

Author: Sayed A. Azimi
Date: May 2023

“This study is a continuation of the seminars given several years ago by the author, both at the Engineering Faculty of Kabul University and at the Annual Afghan American Engineering Society in the Washington Metropolitan area. It builds on the information produced for these events to highlight the worsening of the environmental issues facing the city, namely the rapid losses of the groundwater aquifer throughout the city. Specifically, the objective of this study is to substantiate the significant reduction of water levels in Kabul’s aquifers, their impacts, and their associated root causes.

Kabul is an old city and has a long and rich history dating back over 3,500 years. The population of the Kabul Province is over 5 million people as of 2020 and continues to grow. Kabul is located between Latitude 34-31′ North and Longitude 69-12′ East at an altitude of 1800 m (6000 feet) above sea level, which makes it one of the world’s highest capital cities. Kabul is described as a “bowl surrounded by mountains.” The Kabul River, which measures 700 kilometers or 430 miles long, passes through the city and leaves Afghanistan in the province of Jalabad. Kabul’s climate is arid to the semi-arid steppe. Very low amounts of precipitation, especially between May and November, makes Kabul prone to being a very dry and dusty place.

Kabul is currently facing several environmental challenges. One of the most onerous problems facing Kabul is the rapid depletion of the aquifers throughout the city. In addition, untreated sewage and other wastes make the Kabul River’s water undrinkable and hurt the surrounding ecosystem. Another major environmental concern in Kabul is dust storms. These storms are common because of an arid climate, the loss of several wetlands, and the lack of vegetation throughout the city. In addition, the dust storms have caused health issues such as respiratory problems and economic losses for residents. The city is also experiencing significant increases in trash pollution.

To demonstrate the depletion of Kabul aquifers, this study presents data we collected from 22 districts and interviews we conducted with more than 100 residents. Attempts were made to obtain information on the water levels from each resident for a period covering 20 years between the years 2002 and 2023. The collected data are tabulated and analyzed. Subsequently, the collected data are consolidated, and projections are made through 2035, assuming a 2.7% annual population growth.

This study highlights the scale of the problem in Kabul aquifers’ water levels and the urgency that this problem must be addressed before Kabul runs out of drinking water.

To discover the root causes of the water level reduction, we interviewed several experts and field engineers who have lived and worked in Kabul for many years. We determined that the main factors leading to the dramatic reduction of aquifers are:

• The dramatic increase in Kabul’s population, which grew from an estimated 500,000 in the year 2000 to more than 6 million residents in 2023, more than 10-fold and increasing.
• The reduction of water absorption surfaces through increased use of asphalt, concrete, and steel.
• The unregulated and technically unnecessary drilling wells throughout the city.
• The misuse of water by increased pumping for garden watering (flooding), car washing, and other unnecessary uses.
• The elimination of 5 of the six wetlands that were continuous water sources for the aquifers, especially in Kabul’s Northern, Eastern, and Southern parts.
• Loss of rainfall and precipitation through evaporation and discharge to the river and lack of any systematic mechanism to collect surface runoff and refill the aquifers.

The impact of the drop in the water levels is another issue added to the present humanitarian crisis facing the populace. The low water levels have caused many wells to dry throughout the city, and many residents are forced to haul water from long distances or forced to purchase water. It adds to the lack of work opportunities and increasing food costs.

This study offers a few solutions that are being practiced worldwide and suggest a specific technique to address this problem. Recharging aquifers by constructing dug wells could prove to be an important first step. This technique is a solution to prevent the rapid reduction in water levels in Kabul’s aquifers. It could be instrumental in remedying other prevalent environmental problems facing the city, such as dust storms and respiratory and eye problems.

It is important to mention that this study only considers the issue surrounding the Kabul aquifers’ water levels and their associated causes and offers the most appropriate solution. The study does not go into the planning stages, such as when, where, who, and how the solution can be achieved.”

About the Author

This study was conducted and authored by Mr. Sayed A. Azimi, an Afghan-American living in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. Mr. Azimi is the president of Technologists, Inc. (Ti), an engineering and management consulting firm. Between 2004 and 2021, Ti designed and built numerous infrastructure projects throughout Afghanistan. He has written and conducted several seminars on the subject and is the author of Road to Prosperity; Transformational Initiatives to Create One Million Jobs.

Engineering/Architecture Job Opportunities

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The 2023 SAE Membership Renewal

Dear Members of the Society:

The Management of the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) would like to remind all members that 2023 membership renewal and Annual fee of $60 are due. Your membership fee collectively would enable us to pay for some basic needed services of the Society such as Website security monitoring, updating, and maintenance. Also, your membership fee would provide SAE’s management, the financial means to organize and host events and seminars on relevant technical topics. The membership renewal application is attached to the Newsletter and also can be downloaded from our website at www.afghanengineers.org

Please visit the SAE Face book when you get the opportunity. We appreciate your kind attention to the membership due request.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/275329343923115

Sincerely,
Najim M. Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President

SAE eNewsletter Regional Representatives

The positions of the SAE eNewsletter Regional Representatives are open. Please let us know if you are interested to volunteer for one of these positions or if you want to nominate other qualified members to serve in these positions. The representatives will inform the newsletter Editorial Board of any technical news in their regions and contact authors for their contributions in the activities of newsletter. For additional information please send an email to SAE eNewsletter Editorial Board.

Thanks to those who have updated their membership renewal and have paid their annual membership fees. Thanks for their generosity.

The Society of Afghan Engineers Organization

SAE Executive Committee Members:
President: Najim Azadzoi
Vice President: Hamayon Ibrahim
Treasurer: Mahmoud Samizay
Secretary: TBA
Manager: TBA

SAE Board of Directors-Officers:
Chairman: A. Manan Khalid, M.S., P.E., LEED AP
Vice-Chairman: Jalal Masumi
Executive Director: Gul Afghan Saleh

Members SAE Board of Directors:
Wahed Hasssani, Sharif Hossainy, Manan Khalid, Jalal Masumi, Amanullah Mommandi, Hadi Rakin, Gul Afghan Saleh, Masood Sattari, and Zabi Zaca

SAE Past Presidents:
Atiq Panjshiri, Ghulam Mujtaba, Abdul Hadi Rakin, M. Quasem Kadir, Abdul Hadi Rakin, Mohammed Hashim Rayek, Ahmad Wali Shairzay, Sohaila Sanie Shekib, and Malik Mortaza

SAE Chairpersons of Committees/Subcommittees:
* Hafizullah Wardak, Past Chairman – SAE eNewsletter Subcommittee
* Najim Azadzoi, Acting Chairman of SAE eNewsletter
* Wali Shairzay for Chairperson of the Capacity Building and Academic Development Subcommittee.
* Bashir Kazimee for the Chairperson of the Architecture and City Planning Subcommittees.
* Rafaat Ludin for the Chairperson of the SAE/AGA Liaison Subcommittee.
* Amin Mahmood, P.E., Chairperson of the SAE Student Subcommittee.
* Mohammad Jan Mehrzai, Chairperson of SAE Corporation Committee.
* Donya Amiri, Chairperson of the SAE Membership Committee
* Hadi Rakin, Chairperson of the Water Resource Subcommittee.

SAE Local Chapter Coordinators:
A. Hamid Layan – Kabul, Afghanistan; M. Qaseem Naimi – Toronto, Canada; Najim Azadzoi – Massachusetts; Mohammad Najib Poya – Northern California; TBA – Southern California; A. Manan Khalid – New York and New Jersey; Amanullah Mommandi – Colorado; Atiq Panjshiri – Virginia and Washington DC

SAE eNewsletter Subcommittee:
Subcommittee Acting Chairman: Najim Azadzoi
Members: A. Wahed Hassani, Ph.D., P.E.; A. Manan Khalid, M.S., P.E., LEED AP; Abdul Hamid Layan.

SAE eNewsletter Editorial Board:
Acting Editor–In–Chief: Najim Azadzoi
Editorial Board Members: A. Wahed Hassani, Ph.D., P.E.; A. Manan Khalid, M.S., P.E., LEED AP; and Hafizullah Wardak.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
The subscription to the SAE eNewsletter is free. If you are not receiving the SAE eNewsletter directly and would like to subscribe, please send a note to: azadarch@aol.com with the subject “Subscribe: SAE eNewsletter”. To unsubscribe, send a note with the subject “Unsubscribe: SAE eNewsletter”.

Disclaimer:
The author, reporter, or agency of each publication, project, news, and products is included in this newsletter. Additional contact information of the authors and their agencies are available with the Editorial Board of the newsletter and may be provided upon request. The Editorial Board of the Society of Afghan Engineers, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, or any of its members are not liable for the accuracy or contents of the information. The reports and information are included as provided by the authors and agencies without any changes in the substance of the documents. The information about the agency products or services is not the SAE endorsement.

Membership News

SAE is pleased to announce that many professional engineers and architects in the United States, Canada and Afghanistan have shown their interests becoming SAE team members since January 2021. SAE has received most of new members’ membership applications and fees as required by the SAE bylaw. We welcome everybody and looking forward working together in future projects by providing professional services to Afghan Government and agencies. We publish new members’ names and their short biography in each SAE quarterly eNewsletter as provided the information.

We welcome our newest high qualify members and look forward to their contribution to the purpose and mission of the Society of Afghan Engineers as set forth in the bylaw of the society.

SAE New/Returnee Members February 2023

Returnee Member: Mohammad F. Fasihi (Fayeq)
Mohammad F. Fasihi (Fayeq) moved to the state of Virginia from Afghanistan in late 2000. He studied civil engineering at George Mason University in Virginia, where he received a B.S. degree in Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering in December 2013. Fayeq proceeded to work as a land development design engineer immediately after graduation. With encouragement from friends and family members, Fayeq decided to pursue his Master’s degree in Construction Project Management at George Mason University, where he completed his graduate program in May 2018. Fayeq currently works with Jacobs Engineering Group and is on the Jacobs’ PMCP team working on the Metro Silver Line Extension Project in Northern Virginia. In his free time, Fayeq loves to spend time with his family/friends, play soccer, go for a run, work on computers, and learn new challenging things.

On behalf of the Society, I welcome Mr. Fasihi to the Society.
Najim Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President

SAE New Members May 2023

New Member: Rukhsar Halimi
Name: Rukhsar Halimi; F/N: Abdel Alim Halimi
Facility: Construction Engineering at Urban Planning and Designing in Kabul Polytechnic University
Country: Kabul Afghanistan
Address: Khair Khana 500 family.
Graduated in 2016 from Naswan Mawlana Abdul Majid Mosafa Ghaznawi High school.
Graduated from faculty of Construction Engineering Department of Urban Planning & Designing (2022) (BAs) Kabul Polytechnic University.

Work experience:
* Worked in Aria-koh Private High School as Administration officer 2019-2021.
* Worked as a Trainee Engineer in Projects of Millie Palace, Bagrami Town & Lalla Town from Housing Construction Enterprise from 04/01/2021 to 05/03/2021.
* As financial officer in Faizi Curative Hospital.

Skills:
* Acquaintance with programs Software of Engineering (AutoCad, Sketchup, Photoshop, GIS Program).
* Acquaintance with programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
* Excellent in Dari and Pashto English reading, writing, speaking.
* Familiarity with Academic Writing and all office affairs.

Able to work in different organization, having urban management education, creative and self-motivated. Having work experience in educational groups and good communication skills.

On behalf of the Society, I welcome Ms. Halimi to the Society.
Najim Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President

Returnee Member: Mohammad Jan Mehrzai

Executive Summary
Mohammad Jan Mehrzai is an industrial technologist and experienced Business Executive, Program Manager and Senior Engineer. Prior to joining Rex Moore, Mohammad Jan travelled to various corners of the world, on behalf of Fluor and Chevron, tasked with providing project management and engineering services on mission critical infrastructure projects. These projects, often in harsh and challenging environments, required Mohammad Jan to represent the customer in the capacity of technical advisor or “owner’s engineer”. During these assignments, he managed cross cultural and functional teams perform works on projects requiring integrated electrical, IT, communication, automation and safety systems. He was also tasked with training local staff and transferring knowledge and technologies in the countries hosting the projects.

In 2010, Mohammad Jan founded an international consultancy company specializing in Industrial Systems Integration. This move placed him into a business leadership role. Here, he gained valuable experience in sales and marketing, building partnerships, estimating and developing proposals, maintaining financial records, administering human resources and attending to the legal aspects of the business.

Mohammad Jan’s Program Management and Senior Engineer works includes development of infrastructure on medium to large scale grassroots and brownfield facilities in the oil & gas, renewables, mining and food/beverage market sectors. For these project installations, he had to continuously measure and balance the demands for systems safety, quality, and regulatory compliance against the “Triple Project Constraint” (i.e. scope, cost and schedule).

On behalf of the Society, I welcome Mr. Mehrzai back to the Society.
Najim Azadzoi, AIA, SAE President