Syed Ali Nawab

Syed Ali Nawab (Urdu: سید علی نواب; b. 6 October 1925–22 February 1994 ) , was an engineering officer in the Pakistan Army Corps of EME, and a mechanical engineer with an MIMechE from UK and two bachelor's degrees, one in Electrical Engineering, and the other in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He was known for his classified works in the development of atomic bomb at PAEC and the Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL) in the 1970s.

In 1979, in recognition of Nawab's contributions, head of the nuclear weapon's program, Ghulam Ishaq Khan recommended Nawab for the highly prestigious Hilal e Imtiaz (Military) - a solid gold medal, that in its original format, conferred upon the recipient, allotments of residential as well as valuable irrigated agricultural lands reserved for recipients of gallantry awards and heroes of Pakistan. The first Hilal e Imtiaz (Military) in Pakistan's history, was awarded to 4 star General Zia ul Haq after he was appointed Chief of the Pakistan Army by Prime Minister Z A Bhutto in 1976. Three years later, 4 star Admiral of the Navy Mohammad Shariff and Nawab also became recipients of this highly prestigious and financially attractive award. Since all recipients prior to 1980 except Nawab had been 4 star General officers, Nawab was a member of a small but very influential, elite group of officers in Pakistan, at the time. After 1979, the medal was no longer reserved for military officers directly reporting to the Defense Secretary General of Pakistan. Accordingly, the military medal's format was changed by President General Zia ul Haq to a gold plated, largely ceremonial award, given without all the expensive irrigated land allotments reserved for recipients of gallantry awards and heroes of Pakistan that accompanied the original medal.

His engineering career is associated with research work at Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL), including the operations of computer numerical control (CNC) machines that he worked on throughout his career. Later, as a General officer in the Pakistan Army, he used his knowledge of engineering and connections developed during his stay in Britain to establish a network and enable the import of critical engineering hardware, equipment and supplies from Europe that were used at ERL.

Among his colleagues at Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), he had a reputation of being a qualified machinist and a competent engineer who sought quick solutions. Later, he worked as a consultant engineer on electric power production and quality assurance at the Ministry of Defense Production of Government of Pakistan for many years. Nawab attended Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after his matriculation in 1941–43. He then passed the exam for "MIMechE:" at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in the United Kingdom.

Upon returning to Pakistan in 1954, Major Nawab was appointed, inspector of vehicle and engineering equipment in the Pakistan Army, having responsible for quality inspection and equipment for military vehicles. In 1961 he completed training at US Army's Management Engineering Training Agency at Rock Island Illinois.

In 1965, Lt-Col. Nawab participated in the second war with India, responsible for managing military ordnance and inspections of the military vehicles.

In 1965, Colonel Nawab was directed by the Minister of Defence (MoD) to join the staff of the High Commission of Pakistan in London as a military liaison officer to the British Army. Col. Nawab served in this assignment until 1971 after which he returned to his country to participate in the third war with India. by Defence Secretary Ghulam Ishaq Khan to supervise the establishment of Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL); and for procuring metallurgical equipments, elemental ores, and metalworking that was crucial for scientific and research work at the ERL.

As DG EME Nawab used his British connections to the British Ministry of Defence to import and procure industrial equipments, and the computerized numerical control machines from the United Kingdom that were installed in the ERL. Major-General Nawab officiated his role towards establishing the engineering branch at the KRL as a senior engineer and researcher while partially completing the engineering staffing composed of EME army officers.

Major-General Nawab also used his influence as DG EME in carefully selecting and deputing EME officers posted as military liaison officers and staff at the Office of Military Procurement (PALTO) that was used by ERL at the High Commission of Pakistan in the United Kingdom. COAS General Zia was instructed by Secretary Defence, Ghulam Ishaq Khan to recommend this transfer. Nawab used his appointment at POFs to make additional personnel allocations to ERL and to procure ores of uranium in the country, and relocating them at a secure location for the expansion of nuclear infrastructure. His assignment did not last long, and eventually decided to seek retirement from his military service with the Army in 1983. In addition, the contributions of Nawab's and his firm, the EAC, to industrialization of Pakistan were recognized by the World Bank and IMF in the 1983 World Development Report.

He later consulted the Ministry of Defence Production on product safety and quality assurance for many years, until living a quiet live in Karachi in 1990.

On 22 February 1994, Nawab died at his estate in Karachi, and was buried in Military Cemetery in DHA Society in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Also in Chapter 9, on page 64, in the book “Last Days of Bhutto” by Kausar Niazy