TOBA TEK SINGH: Experts have warned that the country’s industrial sector must rapidly transition toward renewable energy and low-carbon production to remain competitive in global markets increasingly shaped by climate regulations.

This was said during an event hosted by the Alternate Development Services (ADS) in Faisalabad on Friday.

The event brought together academics, industry representatives, civil society members, and policymakers to examine the future of energy use in Pakistan’s textile and leather sectors, two major contributors to national exports and emissions. On the occasion, three research studies on industrial decarbonisation, collectively urged policymakers and businesses to prioritise solar adoption, emissions reduction, and long-term energy planning.

ADS CEO Amjad Nazir said Pakistan’s industries were entering “a decisive moment” where energy choices would determine export prospects and survival in international value chains.

Stress transition towards renewables to remain competitive in climate regulated global markets

He noted that new global carbon thresholds, shifting buyer expectations, and supply chain compliance standards were already reshaping industrial production. “Countries that act early will secure economic advantage. Those that delay will face exclusion,” he cautioned.

A panel discussion featuring experts from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, National Textile University, NUST, and the private sector underscored the severe climate and market pressures facing local industries. Speakers noted that renewable energy was now being adopted less for environmental reasons and more due to direct demands from major international clients, particularly in Europe.

They agreed that sustainability compliance had become non-negotiable for global procurement, and that industries prioritised return on investment but would shift rapidly when buyers linked orders to clean energy adoption.

Panelists also pointed to an emerging trend in which solar energy was being used to meet environmental, health, and safety (EHS) criteria set by international brands. They maintained that Pakistan’s industrial resilience depended on diversifying energy sources and investing early in efficiency and renewable technologies.

FUEL TESTING LAB: The “Mobile Fuel Testing Lab”(MFTL) has become functional in Faisalabad under the Pollution-Free Division initiated.

Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar reviewed the process of analysing fuel samples in the lab and said that testing of fuel quality and adulteration would be done on the spot and samples would be taken from more than 1,000 petrol pumps in the division.

He said the government had provided the MFTL specifically for Faisalabad, through which it would also be checked whether the fuel was local or smuggled. He said that vehicle exhaust was a major cause of smog, for which steps were also being taken.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025