BADIN: 50 million people have no accesses or low accesses to energy at off grid and weak grid areas which has posed several challenges to the energy security of Pakistan.
Relying on cheap and clean energy sources of wind and solar PV will be an efficient and cost effective solution in given circumstances.
These remarks were made by the participants of Seminar organized by Laar Humanitarian and Development Program (LHDP) in collaboration of Indus Consortium Islamabad under the campaign “World Energy Efficiency Week” of GROW Green Network at “The Renaissance Public School Badin on Tuesday.
While addressing the participants, Speakers including Tanweer Ahmed Arain, President, Badin Press Club, Haji Mehmood Ghuman, President, Awan-e-Sahafat, Imran Abbas Khuwaja, General Secretary, Badin Press Club, Sawan Khaskheli, Senior Journalist, Shad Altaf Memon, Senior Journalist, Abdul Qadir Khatti, Chairman, The Renaissance School Badin, Junaid Ahmed Khatti, Principal, Abdullah Saraz, Manager Operation, LHDP, Sanam Abbasi, Coordinator, LHDP, Irfan Ahmed Khatti and others urged that ”Pakistan is ranked on 5th most vulnerable country to climate change by German watch owing to climate induced calamities which will affect Pakistan in future saying that most significant impacts of climate change will be on the agriculture sector as unavailability of water for cropping will affect the yield productivity which can increase food insecurity issues.
They said that only solution to this situation is to respond by taking adaptation and mitigation measures by the government, private sector and communities. “Shifting from fossil fuel based energy solutions to clean sources of wind and solar will decrease the climate vulnerability of Pakistan and make the country self-sufficient and resilient” they added.
They urged the private sector, Renewable energy developer and financiers including domestic banks, IFIs and corporations to shift funding from fossil fuel to clean energy sources to meet the Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) including 30% contribution of Renewable energy in overall energy mix of Pakistan which can fulfill the countries commitments to Paris Climate agreement till 2030. The speakers of seminar demanded to increase the compliance of green banking guidelines by domestic banks and the SBP financing scheme for renewable energy made available and accessible for the most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the awareness walk was also organized and participated by large number of participants including senior journalists, citizens, teachers and students and they also planted the samplings in the premises of “The Renaissance School Badin.”
It is pertinent to mention that the campaign is being organized throughout the country by GROW Green Network of Pakistan to contribute the efforts of the federal government regarding Clean and Green Pakistan: to protect existing forest & plant 10 Billion Tsunami target.