The Boiler Act, 1923 was adopted in 1947 for inspection, certification and registration of new and second-hand boilers with the objective to regulate the use of boilers to provide protection against accidents, as this equipment is inherently hazardous.
However, the said Act became obsolete and outdated due to rapid technological development and improvements in the industrial sector. Consequently, Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance, 2002 was promulgated on November 13, 2002 repealing the Boilers Act, 1923.
Under section 6(e) of the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance, 2002, no owner of boiler can use boiler, or permit it to be used, unless the boiler is in the charge of a person holding 'Boilers Engineers Competency Certificate', required by such rules and not more than 60 years old or less than 25 years of age. As such, under this provision, the upper and lower limits of age for employment of boiler engineers have been fixed as 60 years and 25 years, respectively.
Various boiler associations have made representations to the Ministry against the above provision, stating that fixing of maximum age limit of 60 years has rendered boiler engineers jobless, as their competency certificate is automatically treated cancelled after attaining the prescribed age limit.
The associations have termed the provision of the Ordinance relating to age limit as discriminatory, as such limits are not applicable on persons holding MBBS, law and other engineering degrees, even government servants are allowed to work in private sector after their retirement.
Sources said that the amendment considered by the Federal Boilers and Pressure Vessels Safety Board, which includes representatives from related industry, and Chief Inspectors of Boilers of all four provinces.