'Lack of proper policy on research, management main reason behind energy crisis'

Professor Dr Khalid Rafique has said that lack of proper policy on research and management is the main cause of energy crisis in Pakistan. "The power industry structure having inefficiencies in the transmission and distribution sector and present generation mix of electricity which is heavily dependent on oil and gas", Dr Khalid said as a guest speaker in a seminar "on power energy crisis in Pakistan" organised by IEEE National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (NU-FAST) on Thursday.
He urged the utilisation of abundant potential of alternative energy resources such as coal, wind, solar available in Pakistan and a need for better policy options to a smarter power generation mix. He mentioned the far below world average per capita consumption of 47 watts/person in Pakistan that requires to be raised at least to the world average consumption level of 313 watts/person for the better future of Pakistan.
Policy research area is a major area of concerns for the country keeping in view the dire situation of energy crisis let it be oil supplies, natural or compressed gas, power energy (electricity) crisis, Dr Khalid added. He stressed the need for encouraging the atmosphere of thought provoking discussions at the university level that can help students understand the real issues and their possible solutions for any specific sector.
"The discussion in diversified fields will also encourage the atmosphere of exploring and research among students and pave way for new inventions", he added. He concluded that short-term and long-term policy decisions need to be reviewed regularly to ensure the stable and affordable electricity to consumers. The ill-planned panic policy decision may further worsen the situation as already circular debt, in-efficient generation mix and power theft are major reason for this crisis today.
IEEE Counsellor FAST-NU Islamabad Professor Aamer Hafeez told the audience that NU-FAST Islamabad would arrange a series of the seminars in policy research areas to equip the future engineers to give some thought provoking towards policy analysis and policy directions in diversified areas especially sectors like energy and communication technologies.-PR