United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) has initiated a proposal for collaboration in the area of energy efficiency in selected Asian countries being implemented through South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc).
According to sources, it was revealed in 5th meeting of the Saarc Energy Centre's Board of Governors, held on Tuesday night that was also attended by dignitaries from the member countries.
It was informed that Saarc Energy Centre had undertaken many activities since 2007. "Energy Centre has prepared Term of Reference (ToR) for developing Framework Agreement on energy co-operation," sources said adding that Board emphasised to prepare action plan. Board observed that review of electricity laws was underway with support of Saarc Japan Special Fund.
Meanwhile, according to a statement, the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar has said that Pakistan attached immense value to its relations with the Saarc countries and the regional association held tremendous potential for co-operation especially in the field of energy. Syed Naveed Qamar expressed these views while addressing meeting of Saarc Energy Centre's Board of Governors.
Naveed Qamar said that the upcoming cross-border pipelines such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline were a living example of how regional countries can come together to not just negotiate but actually create a united forum for import of energy. He said, highlighting the benefits of pooling of resources for collective benefit, that provision of energy in a manner that was both sustainable and affordable was vital to the regional countries, being by and large energy importing countries.
The Minister on the occasion said that the Saarc region shared not only geographical proximity and a common history but also their socio-economic challenges were similar in nature, adding that platforms such as the Saarc Energy Centre offered opportunities to share best practices and learn from mutual experiences to collectively find answers to the problems challenging the regional countries in their quest for energy.
While commenting on the performance of the Saarc Energy Centre (SEC) he said that the foundation of creating any kind of synergy on the level of Saarc started from research that was taking place at its Energy Centre. He said that the centre had made progress adding that it should strive to be a'living organism' and to move and respond to the challenges of the time so that the efforts result in much more prosperous South Asia.
The decision to establish Saarc Energy Centre was taken in October 2005 with the mandate to initiate, co-ordinate and facilitate Saarc programme in energy sector. Its role has become more significant with increasing focus on energy co-operation among Saarc countries following the 12th Summit in the year 2004.
The energy centre has undertaken a series of activities such as developing the concept of Saarc Energy Ring (which provides a road map for energy co-operation among Saarc countries), contributed in preparation of Saarc plan of action in energy efficiency and conservation and remains actively engaged in Saarc Regional Energy Trade Study with the assistance of ADB.