Government urged to attract investment in energy sector

Speakers at a seminar have asked the government to announce incentives and tax rebates to attract investors in the energy sector, so that the power crisis hindering the country's economic development could be eliminated. They also asked the government to announce a national conservation campaign on saving energy, as Pakistan currently faces a shortfall of over 4000 MW of electricity.
The seminar on "Policy Framework and Incentives for New Technology In Energy Conversation and Demand Side Management", was organised by The Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan (IEEEP) and held here on Thursday. Former Member Power at the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Engineer Javaid Akhtar said that engineers should focus on resolving the energy crisis being faced by the country.
He also urged political parties, the public and educational institutions to be a part of an awareness campaign on national energy conservation. Former MD Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Munawar Baseer and Director General Energy Management and Conservation at PEPCO, Tahir Bisharat Cheema said energy conservation needs to be part of public policies and that the concept of public policy should be based on the concept of "public good".
Pakistan has the largest coal reserves of the world at Thar, they said, adding that its value was more then the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. They lamented that Pakistan however is unable to develop these reserves. They said that it appears the government was not serious in developing these reserves and made five departments to develop the Thar Coal Field, without any liaison between these departments.
The experts also felt that the nation spent US $16 billion on the import of oil in 2007-2008 because it doesn't have alternate sources of energy. They said that our motto should be that a "unit saved is a unit produced." They also said that there should be a load limit of electricity for consumers and necessary legislation in this regard should be made.
President IEEEP, Engineer Anwar Khalid and honorary Secretary General IEEEP Saleem Arif called for the ending of load shedding by increasing capacity, reducing demand and increasing efficiency. The Head Faculty of the Engineering and Technology Lahore College for Women University Dr Zahir said that we need energy funding institutions and international collaboration to solve the energy crisis.