ISLAMABAD, June 13 (APD) -- Chief of Climate Change and Energy Section, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Arshad Ali Chaudhary said Wednesday that though the country’s generation capacity over time has been increased, and still around 20 percent of the population is not connected with the national grid.
Pakistan’s future largely linked to cleaner, cheaper and sustainable energy for all, which has direct implications for country’s economic future, said the official, adding that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has played a great role in producing sufficient and clean energy for Pakistan.
He stated this while addressing the inaugural session of second training workshop titled “Evidence-based policies for the sustainable use of energy resources in the Asia-Pacific Region”, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), in collaboration with Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) here at Islamabad.
The official said UNESCAP is helping in building the capacity of the planning ministry in preparing policy and plans for greener, sustainable and affordable energy for all.
Ali said power generation alone is not an issue but power distribution, transmission and affordability with minimum theft and line losses, which are currently around 17 to 19 percent, are major challenges of the power sector.
“Pakistan has a lot of potential in solar, wind, hydro and biomass to meet future energy demand and the ministry has already incorporated in its 12th five year plan which is at the final stage”, said the official, adding that Pakistan need to achieve the clean and green energy mix with negligible environmental impact and more economic dividends.
Chief of Energy Division of UNESCAP Michael Williamson said that through their capacity development project they aim to integrate advanced energy-based practices in energy planning, particularly in modeling capabilities and institutionalization of these capacities, to understand the role of the energy sector in addressing the challenge of climate change through the lens of Pakistan.
Joint Executive Director, SDPI, Vaqar Ahmed said as part of the 12th five-year plan of the planning commission, it was important for Pakistan to put in place and follow an integrated energy plan.
Ahmed said it is also important to remember that the policies being proposed are based on scientific evidence. For this purpose, the SDPI has joined hands with other partners to develop energy planning models, which can develop alternative scenarios of Pakistan’s future energy demand and supply needs, he added.
On the occasion, Director of Energy Research Institute Jiang Kejun explained energy modeling activities in the world, China’s energy transition low carbon development system and assessed modeling activities in Pakistan and need of energy modeling in Pakistan.
Source: https://www.apdnews.com/e-world/956882.html
