Pakistan needs an effective research body for petroleum conservation on the pattern of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) working in some of the neighbouring countries. This was stated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lahore-based private company Shoaib Ashfaq Qureshi while talking to Business Recorder adding that PCRA could identify the potential and make recommendations for achieving conservation of petroleum products in various sectors of the economy.
Shoaib Ashfaq Qureshi said PCRA will be responsible for research and development of fuel-efficient equipment and devices and organize multi-media campaigns for creating mass awareness for the conservation of petroleum products. He said PCRA can organise and conduct fuel oil utilisation studies, energy audits, boiler modernisation scheme, introduction of equipment bank concept, use of energy vans, development of oil consumption norms, model depot projects, driver training programmes, demonstration clinics, workshops and hold exhibitions.
Shoaib Ashfaq Qureshi said it is high time that Pakistan should establish a national level petro-products conservation research body without further delay. He said if Pakistan is seriously considering import of oil from India for meeting its ever-growing domestic requirements, there is no harm is following the good example of PCRA and have a research body on PCRA pattern, as the country direly need petroleum products conservation to keep the oil import bill under check
It is high time that Pakistan should start taking conservation measures both in the public and private sectors, as the country is meeting its 85 percent of its requirements through oil imports and the import bill has already crossed staggering figures of 13 billion dollars, he added.
He said if many developed and developing countries around the world are adopting fuel saving measures then why Pakistan should be lagging behind while it is relying heavily on oil imports which is not something to be appreciated in any manner. Besides encouraging use of fuel saving gadget which reduces consumption up to 25 percent, there are several other steps like better traffic signals management, creating awareness among the people regarding purchase of cars according to their requirements and income level as well as learning from other countries experiences as what they have done and doing for achieving fuel efficiency in transport sector.