Muhammad Abro, AScT(Provisional), credits registration by ASTTBC for making a big change in response from prospective employers.

Immigrant Professional Creates Career in BC

Engineer from Pakistan could only find work as a security guard after immigrating to Canada; now a technologist with City of Abbotsford.

The day that a bank robber put a gun to his chest was the day that Muhammad Abro, AScT(Provisional) decided to do whatever it took to become a professional in Canada.

Unable to find work in an engineering field after emigrating, he had been working for two years as a security guard before that ill-fated day. “He was very wild and shouting to everyone,” says Muhammad in describing the robber. “After awhile he jumped over the counter and demanded money from the teller. He remained there more than seven minutes and that time was the longest of my life.”

Muhammad Abro completed his bachelor degree in engineering in Karachi and worked for ten years as a Civil Engineer in Pakistan on water supply and sanitation, and on roads construction. His first visit to Canada was for seven months in 1988 as a student in the Pakistan Canada World Youth Exchange. He immigrated in 2003.

“As a new immigrant I started to look for a job in my own profession, but I did not make it.” says Muhammad. He felt like the requirements of Canadian regulatory bodies created barriers to certification. He was advised by an educational institute to undertake civil engineering studies here in spite of having a Bachelor of Engineering degree. An evaluation from ICES established that his degree was equivalent to Canadian educational standards, but he was advised to take courses to upgrade his English skills. “I became frustrated and gave up going for further education,” he says. “My security job had longer hours and I could not afford to survive here without that job.”

Finally determined to improve his skills and to find job in the engineering field, he undertook a succession of courses including a program from the Waterworks Technology School in Delta; Road Builder & Heavy Construction Foundation course (ITA); computer courses; and English communication courses from BCIT. It was while taking the waterworks course that his instructor, Wayne Nowlan, CTech, encouraged him to apply for registration with ASTTBC. “I was reluctant because of the long list of requirements,” says Muhammad. “But he always encouraged me and he became my advisor. I fulfilled all requirements and got my provisional certification. After my certification I felt a big change in response from employers.”

With his new AScT(Provisional) credentials, he secured a position as Engineering Technologist I (Water works) with the City Of Abbotsford. It turned out to be a dream comes true.

“I am thankful to Wayne, Jennifer (Working solutions) Amer Nawaz P.Eng City of Abbotsford and ASTTBC because they really helped to change my life and give me the new ray of light,” says Muhammad. “I would say to new immigrants do not give-up. Improve your English, it is the basic hurdle. There are opportunities and a lot of facilities to help us if you want to be part of system. Do not think about what you were, always see ahead, attitude is everything.”