Pakistan has Potential to Solve Energy Problems: USAID

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Pakistan has Potential to Solve Energy Problems: USAID [ Print ]
South Asia EB Report, published 15/4/2007

Pakistan has many trained energy professionals and significant financial resources to develop its energy sector, according to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Energy Adviser, Gordon W. Weynand.

Gordon W. Weynand, who recently visited Pakistan to study prospects for further USAID support for the country’s energy sector, expressed his satisfaction over the energy prospects of Pakistan.

“One of my strongest impressions from Pakistan is that although there are many complex energy challenges, the people in the government of Pakistan seem to have strong potential to solve those problems and a ready willingness to try and use new approaches,” he said at the conclusion of his visit, says a statement of USAID.

During his two-week stay, Weynand visited Lahore, Karachi, Sialkot and Islamabad along with USAID Pakistan’s Economic Growth Team.

“USAID is exploring the possibility of including energy sector development in its future economic growth strategy,” said Amy Meyer, the Director for USAID Pakistan’s Economic Growth Office.

“USAID is particularly interested in exploring this area where government and private sector actors are willing to partner with USAID in financing this assistance.”

Since its start in 2004, USAID Pakistan’s Economic Growth program- mainly focusing on business development initiatives, financial services, and agriculture and science & technology development-has also included interventions in the country’s energy sector.

The US-Pakistan Science and Technology Partnership Program is funding a project on “Improving the Lifestyle of Villagers in Remote Areas of Federal Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan Using Renewable Energy” with the aim to provide solar water pumping capabilities for five villages in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of northwestern Pakistan.

These USAID efforts in the energy sector also include the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/Energy), an eight-country program promoting energy security across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

SARI/Energy is completing both wind and solar maps of Pakistan and has also assisted Pakistan in the development of a strategic and business operating plan for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Energy Center (SENTER) that was set up in Islamabad in December 2006.

APP.