The other previously recognized institute, “Department of City & Regional Planning, Mehran University Of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro”, lost its accreditation with the Council since 2008. It has not got it back since then, unfortunately. Hence its students may face issues in getting urban planning jobs in government departments of the country. Although this is a setback for the graduates if they really want to work as urban planner in country’s enlarging job market. However, this is not the end. They might be considered "planners" for further education or employment in many places within and outside country as many organisations may not need PCATP accreditation from the graduates.
However, in order to apply for government jobs related to urban planning the graduates need to be registered with PCATP as urban planner (as far as i am sure). And they cannot do it until and unless their educational institute is accredited with PCATP. Who knows what happens next? but for the current time, the list of accredited and non-accredited programs is given below. I have compiled the list with the help of students from the CRP department UET Lahore through online discussions and internet search. I am thankful to the persons contributed to this list.
If the degree in urban planning is not accredited by PCATP, its graduate may feel certain issues in employment.
"Students and sponsors should know the probable implications of the degree status before enrolling "
If the degree in urban planning is not accredited by PCATP, its graduate may feel certain issues in employment. The students can still study and work however they may not be considered ‘professional urban planner’ in certain areas of Pakistan for example other provinces who may not require PCATP accreditation at all ( I am not sure if this is ging on at present). While they will be bale to earn a living and doing urban planning tasks, the graduates will face certain disadvantages in their professional career in the country due to non-accreditation of their degree by PCATP. I am not saying that PCATP is responsible for this disadvantage to the graduates; it has its own standards and requirements in order to recognize the degree. Main standards include availability of faculty, course contents and educational facilities in the department etc. However, the history shows that it has been a daunting task to get accreditation from governing organizations like PCATP. I have experienced how hard it is for universities and head of institutes to get accreditation when my employer department IGIS (SCEE) NUST was working for getting accreditation for BE Geoinformatics from Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Eventually they got the accreditation after months of working and scores of meetings before their first badge passed out in four years. However it is not the case always. Many institutes end up in a state of denial or critical demands from the governing bodies for accreditation.
Who knows in future, as our politicians do, PCATP passes some ‘Ordinance’ to declare these programs ‘accredited’. Just remembered some dialogues from Hindi movie ‘Nayak’, where a Chief Minister “Amresh Puri” discusses to pass an ordinance against the suspension and imprisonment of politicians by 1-day Chief Minster “Anil Kapoor”.
Web Address from where the information given in above table was obtained are pasted below:-
University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore http://sst.umt.edu.pk/programs/bs-City&Planning.html
National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad
http://nust.edu.pk/INSTITUTIONS/Schools/SCEE/Institutes/NIT/Departments/UrbanRegionalPlanning/Pages/default.aspx
The Institute of Geography, Urban and Regional Department
http://www.upesh.edu.pk//academics/faculties/departments/?q=21&sid=29&cid=77
Lahore Women College University(LCWU) sets up CRP Dept.The Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Information Source:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-127886-LCWU-sets-up-CRP-dept
https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Regional-Planning-Department-LCWU/468012979875793
Superior University
http://www.superior.edu.pk/presentation/user/AllFaculty.aspx