Speakers at a workshop on Wednesday urged the policy makers not only to disseminate success stories of the renewable sources of energy but also provide services for other gigantic fuel consuming industries.
Addressing concluding session of two-day workshop on "Pak-German Renewable Energy-Energy Efficiency Programme" at a local hotel, they further emphasised the provision of soft loans either from Zakat or Bait-ul-Mal to make alternate energy accessible.
Head of Economic Co-operation and Development Section at German Embassy, Juttha Durghardt said that government should subsidise renewable sources particularly solar to make it a success as in Germany.
Quoting ADB report of 2.2 billion dollar FDI in renewable sources, she said it is heartening to learn the sector is getting more attention not only by the multilateral agencies but also from the public and private sectors in Pakistan.
"Reduce the energy bill by improving the energy efficiency, it will not only increase the productivity but also make the industry more competitive," she added.
AEDB chairman, Air Marshall Shahid Hamid (Retd) said that the board is also planning not only to replicate the successful projects of Balochistan in Northern Areas but also focussing on micro and mini hydel, solar and biomass to get cheaper energy.
"The board is also pushing the city and provincial governments to make necessary legislation for promoting the sector by creating awareness and a sense of ownership of the projects," he added. To make this programme sustainable, Khushhali Bank is financing the schemes on affordable margin or soft loan to the end users, Chairman AEDB said.
Urging the ministry of environment, Shahid said that the ministry should set up Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as early as possible. Dr Pervez Tahir, MD Enercon in his concluding remarks said renewable energies could easily be made profitable if all the players work closely. It is also a win-win-situation both for the investors and industrialist, he added.
"Renewable energy needs investment but we have to invest in human resources and institutions to make the programme more viable and successful," Dr Pervez added.