PESHAWAR
The Center for Intelligent Systems and Networks Research (CISNR) at UET Peshawar, in collaboration with GIZ Pakistan, organized a pioneering policy seminar at Ramada Karachi under its project “Energy Efficiency through Digitization.” The seminar brought together experts and leaders to address Pakistan’s urgent need for effective municipal energy management in combating the evident impacts of climate change.
Ms. Stoyanka Stich, Cluster Coordinator for Climate Change & Energy at GIZ, emphasized the urgency of energy management in mitigating climate change effects, underlining its critical contribution to fostering a cleaner and greener environment.
During the seminar’s panel discussion, prominent figures and industry experts, such as Deputy Mayor Sukkur Arshad Mughal, Chairman District Council Kashmore Gul Muhammad, Deputy Director of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Zafar Iqbal Qazi, and General Manager of K-Electric, Adnan Ali, actively engaged in deliberations on key policy options. These discussions were focused on enhancing municipal energy management strategies
Dr. Gul Muhammad, Project Director at CISNR, presented the fifteen policy recommendations formulated as part of this project during the panel discussions, emphasizing their pivotal role. These policy options focused on prioritizing awareness and upskilling for the municipal administrative workforce to embrace the digital era; exploring the synergy of incentives and taxation to encourage energy-efficient behaviors among municipal entities; and highlighting the essential role of localized data in implementing energy efficiency measures and empowering municipalities to drive market changes.
Mohammad Irshad, Project Manager at GIZ, underscored the significance of the policies presented by Dr. Gul, stating that they are supported by successful case studies and comprehensive research.
Deputy Mayor Sukkur Arshad Mughal commended CISNR and GIZ for convening the seminar, recognizing substantial progress in KPK and Punjab under the project. He urged CISNR to focus its interventions in Sindh, emphasizing the importance of alignment in efforts across regions.
The seminar served as a pivotal platform for robust discussions and collaborative efforts toward enhancing municipal energy management strategies, setting a precedent for concerted action and innovative solutions in combating climate change effects in Pakistan.
