The Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu & Kashmir State Centre (IEIJKSC), inaugurated the first day of its two-day national workshop, “Zabaan-o-Bunyad: Empowering Non-Engineer Builders through Urdu-Medium Technical Training,” at its Srinagar auditorium today.

The event brought together a diverse community of masons, carpenters, labourers, and field technicians who form the backbone of the construction sector, reaffirming their vital role in transforming engineering concepts into physical reality besides Corporate & Executive Committee Members of IEIJKSC, Engineers, planners, academicians, etc.

The event witnessed the presence of Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Cooperation, Faz Lul Haseeb, who stressed that the strength of urban development lies not only in planning but equally in the skill and technical awareness of those who build the city block by block.

Chairman, IEI-JKSC, Er. Ferdous Ahad Bhat, in his welcome address, underscored the urgent need to institutionalize safe and resilient construction practices, especially in light of the recent listing of Jammu & Kashmir under Seismic Zone VI, one of the highest risk classifications. He stressed that structural safety must begin at the construction stage itself, with workers fully aware of best practices and technical precautions.

He further noted the region’s vulnerability to flooding and emphasized the importance of regular, language accessible training programmes to ensure that both safety and quality are upheld across all levels of construction activity.

The technical session brought together several experts whose presentations blended academic understanding with practical relevance.

The first day concluded with a sense of shared understanding and renewed confidence among participants.