"Overcoming energy crisis a must to ensure sustainable development"
Speakers at an international symposium held here on Tuesday
stressed the need for resolving the energy crisis and environment issues
being faced by Pakistan. They said that sustainable development could
not be ensured without overcoming the energy crisis.
The
symposium was part of the three-day ‘4th international conference on
energy, environment and sustainable development’ being held at the
Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro. It has
been organised by the Energy and Environmental Engineering Research
Group of the university in collaboration with the US-Pakistan Centre for
Advanced Studies in Water.
Speaking as the chief guest,
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) managing director Syed Wamiq Bokhari
said that the country’s population was on the rise which put a big
responsibility on energy and environment experts to ensure proper
utilisation of natural resources.
“The energy crisis and
environmental degradation are global challenges and we will have to
find out how to meet them through modern technologies make sustainable
development possible,” he said.
He stressed the need for integrated long-term energy planning in Pakistan.
Welcoming
the delegates, MUET vice chancellor Prof Dr Mohammed Aslam Uqaili spelt
out the aims and objectives of the symposium and urged the
participating experts give their valuable input at plenary and technical
sessions. He expressed his confidence that the delegates would present
practicable recommendations to help all stakeholders to overcome the
crises. He said the recommendations and proposals would be sent to
government for due consideration.
Italy’s former
minister for environment, land & sea, Prof Dr Corrado Clini said
that energy and environment challenges were a global phenomenon.
Pakistan, India, China and certain other states, he said, were the
developing countries facing the major issue of increasing population.
“If
these countries depended on traditional energy (coal etc), this will
enhance environmental risks. They better opt for renewable sources like
solar and wind energy".
Prof Dr Khanji Harijan said the
conference, which would continue till Thursday, also featured
presentations and specialised workshops.
Delegates from
United Kingdom, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Taiwan as well as
various local organisations and research bodies of universities across
the country are participating in the conference.
Comments
Post a Comment