12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: A separate ministry for renewable energy sources may be established in the country with a sound incentive driven renewable energy policy in place.

This was one of the recommendations made at the concluding session of the two-day meeting on 'renewable energy technologies and sustainable development', here on Wednesday.

Alternative Energy Development Board chairman Air Marshal Shahid Hamid presided over the concluding session. There were specific recommendations that the research and development institutes involved in development of renewable energies must be given due emphasis to bio-energy in all its forms, including biogas from feedstock and human waste.

Some of the subject specialists were emphatic about institutional strengthening both in terms of manpower and funding. Suggestions were also received that while looking at renewable energy options for Pakistan, due emphasis should be laid on developing the softer and low-tech technologies, which can be easily adapted and assimilated by the end users.

It was also recommended that around 50,000 or so villages in the country might be electrified by photo-voltaics. Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) director-general Dr Ishtiaq A. Qazi presented summary of the recommendations.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Hamid supported the general conclusion of the meeting that growth and potential of technologies could be harnessed through providing policy support and incentives to the private sector.

He also highlighted the establishment of the Alternative Energy Board as a result of the government's growing interests in renewable energy sector. "With this broad level of knowledge shared in a span of two days, the meeting certainly lived up to its expectations.

All of us have benefited from being together and we are now ready to put our words into actions," he said.

During the day-long proceedings various papers were read out. Dr Shujaat presented his papers on 'hydrogen fuel cell: energy of the future'. Tajammul Hussain presented the Brazil Ethanol success story to emulate.