Ali Nawaz Rahimoo

Have you ever endured the intense heat of a Pakistani summer while waiting helplessly for electricity to return? For millions of people across the country, frequent power outages and prolonged load-shedding have become an unfortunate part of daily life. Meanwhile, many developed nations enjoy uninterrupted electricity that powers homes, industries, schools and hospitals around the clock. This contrast raises an important question: why does Pakistan continue to struggle with energy shortages, and what solutions can secure a brighter future?

The answer lies in the widening gap between electricity demand and supply. Pakistan’s population continues to grow rapidly, urban centers are expanding, and industries require increasing amounts of power to sustain economic activity. Although generators, UPS systems and rooftop solar panels provide temporary relief to some households, they cannot solve the country’s broader energy crisis. Pakistan urgently needs sustainable, affordable and long-term solutions capable of meeting national energy needs.

Traditionally, Pakistan has relied on hydroelectric dams and thermal power plants fuelled by oil, gas and coal to generate electricity. While these sources have supported economic development for decades, they come with serious drawbacks. Fossil-fuel-based power generation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and climate change. Rising fuel prices also place enormous pressure on the national economy through expensive imports.

As concerns about global warming intensify, countries around the world are increasingly investing in renewable energy sources. Among these, wind energy has emerged as one of the most promising options. The same powerful winds that often inconvenience us during storms can become a valuable source of clean electricity. According to global energy statistics, wind power contributed more than seven percent of the world’s electricity generation in recent years, and its share continues to grow steadily.

The idea of harnessing the wind is not new. Human beings have used wind power for centuries. Ancient sailors depended on wind-filled sails to cross oceans and connect civilizations through trade. Farmers and rural communities used windmills to grind grain into flour and pump water from wells. Today’s modern wind turbines are sophisticated descendants of these early inventions.

Historians trace the earliest practical windmills to Western Asia more than a thousand years ago. During the seventh to ninth centuries, regions that now form parts of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan developed vertical-axis windmills known as “Asbads.” These ingenious structures used strong seasonal winds to grind grain and irrigate farmland in dry environments. Their success eventually inspired similar technologies in India, China and Europe.

In Europe, windmills became symbols of innovation and prosperity. The Netherlands, in particular, perfected their use. Thousands of Dutch windmills were built during the Middle-Ages to grind grain, process raw materials and, most importantly, pump water from low-lying areas. Through this technology, the Dutch reclaimed land from the sea and transformed their landscape into productive agricultural land. Even today, these historic windmills remain icons of Dutch engineering and cultural heritage.

During the nineteenth century, wind-powered water pumps spread across the United States and Australia. Farmers and ranchers relied on multi-bladed windmills to extract groundwater for livestock, irrigation and domestic use. These devices became indispensable in remote rural regions where access to conventional power sources was limited.

Wind energy entered a new era in 1890 when Danish scientist and inventor Poul la Cour developed one of the first wind-powered electricity generators. His pioneering work laid the foundation for modern wind technology. Interest in wind-generated electricity increased dramatically during the energy crises of the 1970s, encouraging nations to seek alternatives to imported oil. Since then, advances in engineering and technology have transformed wind power into one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world.

Modern wind turbines operate through a remarkably simple principle. The movement of air turns large blades mounted on tall towers. The rotating blades spin a shaft connected to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. Unlike fossil-fuel power stations, wind turbines require no fuel and produce no harmful emissions during operation. As a result, they represent one of the cleanest methods of electricity generation available today.

There are two primary types of wind turbines. Horizontal-axis turbines are the most common and recognizable. Typically featuring three large blades, they stand between 60 and 90 meters high and rotate while facing directly into the wind. Their generators are positioned near the top of the tower. Vertical-axis turbines, by contrast, rotate around a vertical shaft and often have generators located near the ground, making maintenance easier and less expensive. Their smaller size also allows installation in urban environments and on rooftops.

When multiple turbines operate together, they form a wind farm. These facilities can contain dozens or even hundreds of turbines connected through a power collection system to the national grid. Wind farms may be established on land or offshore, depending on local wind conditions. Advances in technology and declining installation costs have made wind energy one of the most cost-effective sources of electricity worldwide.

Countries such as China, the United States, Germany, India, Spain, the United Kingdom and Denmark have become global leaders in wind energy production. China possesses the largest installed wind power capacity, while Denmark generates a substantial share of its electricity from wind and is widely regarded as a pioneer in renewable energy innovation.

For Pakistan, the potential of wind energy remains largely untapped. The country’s geographical conditions are highly favorable for wind power generation. Under its renewable energy ambitions, Pakistan has identified several regions suitable for wind development, particularly in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The coastal belt between Karachi and Hyderabad contains one of South Asia’s most promising wind corridors. Stretching approximately 180 kilometers in length and 60 kilometers in width, this region alone possesses the potential to generate nearly 50,000 megawatts of electricity. The Gharo-Jhimpir corridor in Sindh is especially significant, with an estimated capacity of around 43,000 megawatts.

Pakistan has already taken encouraging steps. The Jhimpir Wind Power Plant began commercial operations and demonstrated that large-scale wind projects can contribute effectively to the national grid. Today, multiple private-sector wind projects collectively generate substantial amounts of electricity, while additional projects continue to be developed.

Expanding these initiatives could help Pakistan reduce dependence on imported fuels, strengthen energy security, create employment opportunities and significantly decrease the burden of load-shedding. Investments in manufacturing, maintenance, engineering and technical training associated with the wind sector would further stimulate economic growth.

As the world confronts climate change and rising energy demands, renewable energy is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Wind power offers a practical, affordable and environmentally responsible pathway toward sustainable development.

The winds that sweep across Pakistan’s plains, coastlines and mountains are more than natural phenomena. They represent an abundant natural resource waiting to be harnessed. By embracing wind energy, Pakistan can transform its energy landscape and ensure that future generations inherit a country powered not by scarcity and darkness, but by innovation, prosperity and uninterrupted light.

Read: The Sanitation Crises in Sindh

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Ali Nawaz Rahimoo, based in Umerkot, Sindh is a social development professional. He can be contacted on anrahimoo@gmail.com 

The post Windmills: Energy without Smoke first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Tom Arms | London 

Energy Security. The Ukraine War made it a hot topic for a Europe dependent on Russian oil and gas. The Iran War—alongside the climate change debate– has revived the issue for the rest of the world.

The world’s main fossil fuel production centers are unstable. As a result, demand is growing to replace oil and gas with renewable energy. Furthermore, the renewable energy should be produced in areas which the consuming countries control. Many countries are already doing just that. Some better than others.

Surprisingly, Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” America does well when it comes to renewable sources of energy. Forty-six percent of US electricity is produced by renewables. The bulk of it – 19 percent—comes from the world’s largest “fleet” of nuclear reactors—94 spread over 54 sites.

The next largest provider are the windmills that Donald Trump hates. They produce 10.8 percent of the country’s electricity. Nine percent comes from solar power and hydro is six percent. Energy from biomass brings up the rear with 1-2 percent.

Three of the worst countries for renewable energy—and thus heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil—are Japan, India and South Korea. Japan (the world’s third largest economy) and India both derive only 25 percent of their electricity needs from renewables. But South Korea’s energy supplies are even less secure. Only about 9 percent of its electricity comes from renewables.

China is a bit better. Thirty-eight percent of its electricity comes from renewable sources. Solar and wind provide 18 percent, and China operates the world’s largest solar farm in Xinjiang. It covers 33,000 acres and is said to produce enough energy to power two million electric cars a year. Even larger solar farms are planned on the Tibetan Plateau.

The Tibetan Plateau is also the fount of another of China’s renewable energy sources—hydro power. The Himalayan mountain range is the source of many of the world’s great rivers which the Chinese have dammed to produce 13 percent of their electricity. But it is not as much as wind power which produces 18 percent of Chinese needs.

Read: How the War in the Middle East Is Affecting Energy, Trade, and Finance

European countries are at the top of the scale when it comes to renewables and energy security. In the EU, an average of 45 percent of all electricity was generated from renewable sources. One of the renewable source leaders in the EU is Spain with 57 percent of its energy from renewable sources in 2025. Some diplomatic observers maintain that Spain’s energy security contributed to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s tough stance towards Donald Trump.

France depends heavily on nuclear energy for its electricity supply. It boasts the world’s largest “fleet” of nuclear reactors after America—56 plants on 18 sites. These plants supply 61 percent of the country’s electricity. Another 18 percent comes from hydro, 15 percent from wind, three percent from solar and two percent from biomass. Only about seven percent comes from oil and gas. Coal—in common with most of the rest of Europe– provides less than one percent of France’s energy needs.

Germany used to have a large nuclear industry—29 reactors. But the Germans started to de-commission their nuclear power plants after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. It revived slightly in the early 2000s and then plunged again after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. The last German reactor shut down in April 2023. But Germany is still able to generate 56 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources. Most of it comes from onshore windmills, but a growing proportion of the wind turbines are in the Baltic. Offshore wind energy is popular throughout northern Europe. In Germany, windmills produce 33 percent of the country’s electricity.

Wind is also a growing energy source in Britain, especially offshore wind. A third of Britain’s electricity is produced by windmills dotted around the coast and on hilltops. In total 52.5 percent of British electricity comes from renewable sources. Unfortunately, most of the remainder comes from fossil fuels, but not from the Middle East. Eighty-six percent of Britain’s fossil fuels come from oil and gas platforms in the British and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. About nine percent is liquefied natural gas which crosses the Atlantic from America.

The UK is thought of as wet, cold and sunless. Despite the weather, a growing source of British energy is solar. In fact, near Newport, Wales (one of the wettest parts of the UK) is Llanwern Solar Park which supplies electricity to 108,000 households.

Llanwern is the second largest solar farm. The largest is Cleve Hill Solar Park on the North Kent coast. It was connected to the national grid in July 2025.It boasts 550,000 solar panels; a 150-megawatt battery storage system to stabilize supplies and supplies electricity to 120,000 homes.

Solar power is growing in popularity because it relies more on the number of hours of daylight rather than just the intensity of the heat generated by the sun. That is not to say that hot, desert countries do not have the advantage when it comes to solar power. They do.

Saudi Arabia, with its vast hot deserts, is perfect for solar power and it plans to generate half of its electricity from the sun by 2030. Morocco is hoping to become a solar superpower. Its Noor Quarzazate complex in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains already produces electricity for more than three million Moroccan homes and a power cable has already been laid across the Strait of Gibraltar to connect with Spain’s power grid. Morocco plans to derive more than half of its electricity from the sun by 2030 and Moroccans claim that they could in future supply half of Europe’s electricity needs.

Read: Observations of an Expat: The Cost

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Tom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice. He also contributes to “The New World” magazine and lectures of world affairs. He is the author of two editions of “The Encyclopedia of the Cold War,” “The Falklands Crisis” and “America Made in Britain.”

The post Observations of an Expat: Energy Security first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• We can harness this powerful natural resource to fuel our future lighting homes, energizing industries, and reducing the environmental cost of development

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo

Have you ever felt frustrated during the scorching summer months, enduring endless power outages and long hours of load-shedding? Have you ever wondered why, unlike many developed countries, we still struggle to provide round-the-clock electricity? The answer lies in a simple yet pressing truth: our electricity production cannot keep up with our growing demand. While temporary solutions like generators, UPS systems, and solar panels provide some relief at the individual level, they are not enough to power homes, industries, and businesses on a national scale. What we need are long-term, sustainable energy solutions.

Why Renewable Energy?

In Pakistan, electricity is generated from various sources including hydroelectric dams, coal, and fossil fuels. However, these conventional methods are increasingly harmful to the environment. With the world facing the serious threat of climate change, it’s vital that any new energy solutions are environmentally friendly. One such promising and eco-friendly source is wind energy. Surprisingly, the very winds we often consider a nuisance can be a powerful ally in our quest for clean energy. In fact, wind energy contributed about 7.33% of the world’s electricity production in 2022.

A Brief History of Wind Energy

Wind has been harnessed for centuries—first for sailing ships, then to grind grain and pump water using traditional windmills. The earliest known windmills date back over a thousand years to regions that now include Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. From there, the technology spread to India, China, and Europe, evolving with each step. Modern wind turbines—descendants of those early windmills convert wind into electricity using advanced engineering. The first practical wind-powered electricity generator was built by P. La Cour in Denmark in 1890, with widespread interest resurging during the energy crises of the 1970s.

How Wind Turbines Work

Wind turbines come in two main types: Horizontal-axis turbines, the most common, feature three long blades and are mounted on tall towers, typically 60 to 90 meters high. These blades rotate when hit by wind, turning a generator to produce electricity.

Vertical-axis turbines have blades that spin around a vertical axis. They’re often smaller and easier to maintain because their generators are located near the ground. These are suitable for urban areas and rooftops.

A group of turbines connected to the same grid is called a wind farm, which can range from a few turbines to hundreds, covering large areas either on land or offshore.

Pakistan’s Wind Power Potential

Pakistan is well-positioned to benefit from wind energy. Under its Renewable Energy Policy, the government aims to generate 60% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The country has significant wind potential, especially in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The most promising area is the Gharo-Jhimpir wind corridor, stretching along the coast between Karachi and Hyderabad. This 60km wide and 180km long region could generate up to 50,000 MW of electricity. The Jhimpir Wind Power Plant was Pakistan’s first major wind project.

Operational since March 2018, it uses high-efficiency turbines to inject 200 GWh of electricity into the national grid annually, producing 55 MW on its own. Jhimpir is just one of 26 private wind projects currently generating 1,335 MW in Pakistan, with 10 more projects (510 MW) under construction.  With full implementation and integration, these projects could significantly reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and minimize power outages.

A Global Legacy: The Asbads of Iran

The world’s oldest known windmills, called Asbads, still stand in Nashtifan, Iran. Made from clay, straw, and wood, they’ve been grinding grain for centuries using strong seasonal winds that blow for 120 days a year, sometimes reaching speeds of 100 km/h. These vertical windmills are about 65 feet tall, each featuring eight chambers and six wooden blades. Though only 15 Asbads remain today, they are considered a national heritage and are undergoing restoration to preserve this ancient engineering marvel.  Wind energy offers Pakistan a reliable, clean, and cost-effective path to energy security. With strategic investment, improved technology, and government support, we can harness this powerful natural resource to fuel our future lighting homes, energizing industries, and reducing the environmental cost of development. The wind may seem invisible, but with the right tools, it can become a visible solution to one of our most pressing challenges.

Read – Jhimpir Wind Corridor: Prosperity or Displacement?

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Ali Nawaz Rahimoo, based in Umerkot, Sindh is a social development professional. He can be contacted on anrahimoo@gmail.com 

The post Harnessing the Wind Power first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Dr. Abdullah G Arijo

The global energy crisis is an increasingly pressing concern, driven by a combination of rapid industrialization, population growth, and unsustainable consumption patterns. Factors such as the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, geopolitical tensions, and the environmental impact of conventional energy sources exacerbate the situation. For a country like Pakistan, addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, with a particular focus on sustainable and locally sourced energy alternatives. Biofuel production presents a viable solution, leveraging the country’s rich agricultural landscape. By utilizing local biomass sources, such as crop residues, livestock waste, and non-edible oilseeds, Pakistan can reduce its dependency on imported fuels, stimulate rural economies, and mitigate environmental damage. Integrating biofuel production into the national energy strategy involves investing in research and development, establishing supportive policies, and fostering public-private partnerships. This comprehensive approach ensures energy security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability, ultimately contributing to the global effort in combating the energy crisis.

Biotechnology plays a crucial role in the production of biofuels, which are renewable sources of energy derived from biological materials. These materials, often referred to as biomass, include plant residues, animal waste, and even algae. The process of converting biomass into biofuel involves several biotechnological techniques, making biofuel production more efficient and sustainable.

How Biotechnology Contributes to Biofuel Production

1. Microbial Fermentation: Microbial fermentation is a key biotechnological process in biofuel production. Microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast are used to break down plant materials and convert them into bioethanol, a type of biofuel. This process is similar to how yeast ferments sugar to produce alcohol in brewing.
2. Enzyme Technology: Enzymes, which are proteins that speed up chemical reactions, play a vital role in breaking down complex carbohydrates in biomass into simple sugars. These sugars can then be fermented to produce bioethanol. The use of engineered enzymes has significantly improved the efficiency of this process.
3. Genetic Engineering: Biotechnology also involves genetic engineering to enhance the productivity of biofuel-producing organisms. For example, scientists can modify the genetic makeup of algae to increase their oil content, which can be converted into biodiesel. This approach helps in producing biofuels more economically.

Benefits of Biotechnology in Biofuel Production

1. Renewable and Sustainable Energy: Unlike finite fossil fuels, biofuels are derived from renewable resources. This makes biofuels a sustainable source of energy for the future.
2. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Biofuels produce fewer greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. This helps in mitigating climate change and reducing air pollution.
3. Energy Security: By producing biofuels locally, countries can reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhancing their energy security.
4. Economic Opportunities: The biofuel industry creates jobs and promotes rural development by utilizing agricultural waste and cultivating energy crops.

Applications in Pollution-Free Technology

Biotechnology-driven biofuel production supports various pollution-free technologies:

1. Green Transportation: Biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol can be used in vehicles, reducing emissions and promoting cleaner transportation.
2. Power Generation: Biofuels can be used in power plants to generate electricity, offering a cleaner alternative to coal and natural gas.
3. Industrial Applications: Bio-based chemicals and materials derived from biofuels can replace petroleum-based products in industries, reducing their environmental footprint.

Biotechnology and Biofuels in Pakistan

Pakistan has significant potential for biofuel production due to its agricultural resources. The country’s vast farmlands produce substantial amounts of agricultural residues, which can be converted into biofuels. Additionally, Pakistan’s climate is suitable for cultivating energy crops like sugarcane and corn, which are primary sources of bioethanol.

Government initiatives and research institutions in Pakistan are focusing on developing and promoting biofuel technologies. The adoption of biofuels can address the energy crisis, reduce environmental pollution, and contribute to sustainable development in the country.

Conclusion

Biotechnology has revolutionized the production of biofuels, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. By leveraging microbial fermentation, enzyme technology, and genetic engineering, biofuel production has become more efficient. The benefits of biofuels, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced energy security, make them a promising solution for pollution-free technology. In Pakistan, the potential for biofuel production is immense, providing opportunities for economic growth and environmental conservation.

Read- Sindh: Navigating the Crossroads of Culture and Education

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Prof. (R) Dr. Abdullah G. Arijo is Advisor and Visiting Professor, SBBUVAS, Sakrand, Pakistan. He is Ex-Chairman, Department of Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University and Ex-Advisor Academics & P&D to Vice Chancellor SAU Tandojam

The post The Role of Biotechnology in Biofuel Production first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, Sindh

The UK-funded Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Pakistan kicked off its two-day Investor Roadshow in Karachi on Thursday October 17, 2024, bringing together seven innovative climate mitigation projects spanning sectors such as power, e-mobility, healthcare, food, agriculture, and technology.

The third cohort includes the following projects:

A 500MW floating solar project at Keenjhar Lake, aiming to provide clean energy, create thousands of jobs, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels; an AI-powered platform for measuring emissions and a digital carbon marketplace aimed at significantly reducing CO2 emissions; offering bio-detergents to eco-conscious consumers, reducing harmful chemicals in wastewater and promoting environmental sustainability; National Rural Support Program aimed at converting agricultural waste into biomass to enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; producing zero-emission electric motorcycles to transform mobility in Pakistan, focusing on increasing production for tough road condition; creating Pakistan’s first large-scale, sustainable biomass supply chain to produce clean energy from agricultural waste, and establishing a facility to produce Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (R-PET) resin, reducing plastic waste and conserving natural resources.

The CFA, implemented by DAI Pakistan on behalf of the UK Government, has provided the projects with technical, financial, and gender inclusion expertise to help ready them for investment. The third cohort of projects marks a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to bolster Pakistan’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Designed to combat the intensifying challenges of climate change, these projects will be presented to a distinguished panel of investors from financial institutions, venture capitals, corporates, and key Government bodies during the two-day event.

The British Deputy High Commissioner, Sarah Mooney, underscored the UK’s commitment to addressing climate change in Pakistan. She said, “Pakistan is on the front lines of the climate crisis. There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to help Pakistan adapt to climate change and mitigate against it. Finance is essential to achieve this. We are unlocking investment opportunities through innovative projects to drive long-term, positive change in Pakistan and globally.”

Secretary Ministry of Climate Change – Ms. Aisha Humera while addressing the gathering, said, “We value the UK Government’s initiative, which emphasizes the importance of private sector involvement in Pakistan’s green transition. We’re excited to engage with innovative low-carbon projects led by visionary young entrepreneurs that will go a long way in achieving a sustainable future and lead to strong public-private partnerships, unlocking climate finance, and pursuing innovative solutions to combat climate change.”

James Naughton of DAI UK and Ian Milborrow of PwC UK spoke about the genesis of the global CFA program, the activities of CFA Pakistan since its 2022 launch, and the overall environment of climate financing in Pakistan. Khurram Lalani, CFA Pakistan Team Leader, highlighted the significance of this third cohort: “This cohort exemplifies the type of transformative change that is possible when we bring together innovative ideas, expert knowledge, and the right financial instruments. The CFA has been pivotal in helping these projects move closer to investment readiness. It goes beyond funding – it’s about building lasting partnerships and creating systems that address the climate crisis while fostering economic growth.”

The CFA Investor Roadshow fosters relationships between financial experts, investors, and project developers, with the goal of accelerating Pakistan’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Should these projects secure the necessary financing, they are poised to deliver significant benefits to communities nationwide, ranging from pollution abatement and job creation to enhanced access to clean energy, effective waste management solutions, and the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion.

The event will continue on Friday October 18 with a high-level roundtable bringing together policymakers, climate finance experts, and representatives from banking, corporate, and development sectors. The discussion – “De-risking Climate Projects: Tools and Strategies” – will consider the future of climate finance and low-carbon projects in Pakistan.

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a £11.8 million four-year technical assistance program funded by International Climate Finance (ICF), through the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The CFA is implemented in ten countries (Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Türkiye, Uganda and Viet Nam) and is working to develop a sustainable pipeline of bankable, low carbon projects in each country. The CFA is part of the UK’s efforts to support climate action on a global scale, facilitating access to finance and helping governments achieve climate targets under the Paris Agreement.

DAI is a leading global development company. Since 1970, DAI has worked in more than 150 countries- from stable societies and high-growth economies to challenging environments. (PR)

Read: VANISHING WATERBODIES OF SINDH

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The post Innovative Climate Projects Showcased at Investor Roadshow in Karachi first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Aamir Latif 

KARACHI, Sindh, Pakistan

Russia and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to maintain “close” cooperation in the fields of trade, industry, energy, connectivity, science, technology and education.

The agreement was reached in a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin on the sidelines of a summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) heads of government that ended in Islamabad on Wednesday, said a statement issued by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Office..

Mishustin is the first Russian premier to visit Islamabad since 2007.

The two leaders also agreed on lingual exchanges among the two countries to enhance people-to-people relations and increase cooperation among their banking sectors to facilitate trade and investment, according to the statement.

“The prime ministers discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and noted the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations over the last two decades,” the statement added, referring to increasing economic and defense ties between the two countries.

Russia last year agreed to provide crude oil to Pakistan at discounted rates to meet Islamabad’s rising domestic and industrial energy needs.

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening political, economic, and defense ties with Russia as the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation at multilateral forums, including the SCO.

He also thanked Moscow for supporting Pakistan’s BRICS membership bid.

Mishustin, for his part, expressed his desire to further bolster the existing cooperation between Russia and Pakistan to the “next level.”

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk visited Pakistan last month.

Read: Russia changes nuclear doctrine: What happens now?

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Aamir Latif is a Karachi-based senior journalist. He represents Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency (Posted on 16.10.2024)

The post Russia, Pakistan agree to boost cooperation in trade, energy first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, Sindh

Chief Secretary Sindh Dr.  Muhammad Sohail Rajput and representatives of USAID and US Embassy jointly inaugurated an Investment Roadshow for raising climate investment in Pakistan for SMEs in solar and wind energy, giving on and off- grid energy solutions as well as innovative companies working on net neutrality goals of the country.

The 2-day investment forum and expo took place at a local hotel in Karachi and brought together key financial institutions and investors together on Wednesday.

The event was organized by USAID-funded Pakistan Private Sector Energy Project implemented by the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) in partnership with UNIDO and REEEP. PFAN has globally raised $3bn in investment in climate finance to date.

Chief Secretary Sindh delivered the keynote address and commented on Pakistan’s ripe investment readiness as well as the pressing need for sustainable infrastructure scale-up. “I am glad to learn that Sindh was found to be a priority province by the Pakistan Private Sector Energy project as our province is rich in scaling up of wind, solar and waste to energy in our provincial and national energy strategy,” commented Dr. Rajput.

He further said that the Government of Sindh with the financial support of World Bank (US 100 Million Dollar) launched the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), mainly focused to divert the conventional methods of energy production to the state of the art new and renewable technologies.  This program will finance government’s electrification program to help provide 200,000 Solar Home Systems to the people in the entire province not connected to the Grid and low access electricity areas. “Till date 26 Hospitals has been shifted on rooftop solar. The system will be connected to the nearby grid under NEPRA’s net-metering policy,” he added.

The U.S. Consul General Karachi Liam O’Flanagan affirmed the United States’ support for clean energy projects in his address and noted that building a robust pipeline of clean energy and circularity companies is integral in driving the clean energy transition forward. Peter Storey, Global Coordinator at PFAN, expressed his excitement and hope that the investment forum will culminate in raising dollars for the eco-entrepreneurs.

The event featured pitches from companies such as ezBike, Ray Data Analytics and Ouroboros in electric mobility, clean-tech and circularity, respectively. While the expo featured selected fourteen companies from the project pipeline. (PR)

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The post U.S., Pakistan partner to promote investment in clean-tech SMEs first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, Sindh

Sindh Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to establish province’s own Electric Power Regulatory Authority to improve energy equity, eliminate energy poverty in province.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a cabinet meeting at CM House decided to establish Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) to improve energy equity and eliminate energy poverty in the province.

Shah termed the cabinet decision a historic step toward power generation, transmission, and distribution.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, and other concerned officers.

SEPRA: Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh briefing the cabinet said that Sindh was blessed with an entire value chain of energy resources inter-alia coal, solar, and wind, with cost-effective access through air, land, and sea routes, which could be utilized for the generation of electricity, wheeled through the transmission network of Sindh Grid Company to meet the demand of household, commercial and industrial consumers of the province at affordable prices.

Imtiaz Shaikh said that the constraints faced by the provincial power projects, especially the renewable projects wind and solar development, within the national framework in terms of non-inclusion in the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021 (IGCEP 2021), and lack of further processing by the federal entities.

At this, the CM said that it was imperative that a holistic legal, policy, and regulatory framework for generation, transmission, distribution, and regulation was formulated so that energy equity was improved and energy poverty in the Province was eliminated.

The cabinet was told that under Section (7)(4) of the NEPRA Act 1997 the provinces have been allowed to construct power houses and grid stations and lay transmission lines for use within the province and determine the tariff for the distribution of electricity within the province.

The cabinet after a thorough discussion approved the establishment of the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority.

BRT Red Line: Minister Transport Sharjeem Memon told the meeting that Karachi BRT Red Line Project was being implemented in collaboration with ADB and co-financer including AIIB, AFD, and GCF, at a cost of $ 503.2 million. He added that TransKarachi was an implementing agency for this project. The BRT project corridor passes through urban areas of the city originating from Malir Halt and terminating at Tower via Malir Cantonment, Safoora, University Road, and Numaesh. The land of Alladdin Park which is nearby the Mosamiyat Depot has been identified to be used as the Project’s other depot.

At the request of the Transport department, the cabinet approved the proposal to provide 16-acre land of Alladdin Park to the Transport department to develop it as a Bus Depot/staging facility. The features of the Bus depots include a bus parking facility, Bus Inspection area, filling station (biogas), workshop, offices, bus wash, and vacuum facility, watch towers, security, and main entry gates, a water recycling plant, and fire pump room.

The cabinet also directed the Transport department to take over the land of the slaughterhouse to establish a biogas plant for the BRT Red Line project.

The provincial cabinet also approved subsidy for the Peoples Bus Service to meet the fare difference.

Minimum Wage: On the proposal of Minister Labor Saeed Ghani the cabinet approved the fixation of minimum wages for three categories of skilled workers – semi-skilled and highly skilled workers employed in 42 industries. The new rate as approved by the cabinet would be effective at a rate of Rs.26000 for Semi-skilled workers, Rs.31961 for skilled workers, and Rs.33491 for highly skilled workers with retrospective effect from January 2023.

CM said that the new wages for the workers of different categories would be considered from the next financial year.

Data sharing between Sindh BOR & FBR: Minister Revenue Makhdoom Mahboob told the cabinet that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) intended to sign a bilateral agreement for data sharing with the Board of Revenue Sindh to develop an effective mechanism for the exchange of information between different public sector organizations for optimum revenue generation under the World’s Bank “Pakistan Raises Revenue” Program. It was pointed out that the agreement had been signed with the FBR on April 6, therefore the cabinet granted post-facto approval.

HANDS Institute of Development Studies: The Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho told the cabinet that the Governing Body of HANDS has proposed the establishment of a Degree Awarding Institute `HANDS- Institute of Development Studies (HANDS-IDS) at Gadap. She added that Sindh HEC has recommended the grant of the Charter. The cabinet approved the proposal and referred it to the assembly. The cabinet on the recommendation of the Health department appointed Justice Abdul Rasool Memon and Dr. Ghulam Rasool Shah as Commissioners of the Sindh Healthcare Commission. (PR)

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Karachi

Provincial Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh says Sindh had a complete, cheap and long-lasting solution to energy problems of the country.

Speaking at a consultative session held at a local hotel in Karachi regarding more effective utilization of Thar coal reserves, minister said that the provincial government would go all out in enhancing energy security for the country, and was currently working on multiple projects to support macroeconomic stability of the country.

He also encouraged all participants to come up with innovative and technology-driven solutions to maximize the value that could be generated from energy assets available in Sindh.

He said that Thar coal deposits and natural resources of the province were the best resource to meet the country’s energy needs and save a lot of foreign exchange spent on import of fuel to get out of the severe economic crisis. “The need is that we use these resources in a better way,” he added.

The minister said that currently about 2,600 megawatts of electricity was going to the National Grid from Thar coal reserves which were cheap source of energy.

He said that this consultation meeting had been held to see what more can be done from the Thar coal reserves. “The Sindh government wants to ensure more effective use of the Thar coal reserves in consultation with experts,” he added.

Imtiaz Sheikh said that he would inform the Sindh Cabinet about the recommendations of this consultation meeting. He said that the provincial government was also working on the project of connecting the Thar coal deposits with the main railway line with the cooperation of the Federal Ministry of Railways so that Thar coal could be delivered to other energy plants of the country, adding that it could be a substitute for imported fuel.

He thanked Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the members of the federal government for their cooperation and said that the prime minister had taken great interest and provided full cooperation. He said that the policies of the PTI government had greatly damaged the plans of the Sindh government.

He requested the Prime Minister to remove the obstacles in the way of Sindh’s energy projects. He said that the project biogas would also be implemented soon.

Dr. Qaiser Bengali, Sindh Energy Secretary Abubakar Madani, Managing Director Thar Coal Energy Board Khadim Hussain Chana, Thar Coal Tariff Committee members Ammar Habib Khan, Fahad Irfan Siddiqui and key representatives of the business community and other stakeholders also presented their views and suggestions in the session.

Earlier, talking to the media, the provincial energy minister said that Sindh had Pakistan’s energy solution as there were enough resources in the province.

He said besides huge coal reserves, a powerful wind corridor was in the province where electricity was being generated. The energy minister said that the provincial government was also considering launching a project for gasification of coal at Thar. Similarly, he said that the provincial government would also launch a biogas project soon.

He said that the provincial government was setting up solar parks in Malir and Keamari for power generation. To a question he said that the people of Islamkot, Thar had been given free electricity. “We want to give people of the entire Tharparkar district free electricity and the work on it is in progress,” he added. (PR)

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