KARACHI, Feb 27: Speakers at a symposium called for formulating an effective long-term national energy policy to meet the future energy demands and to achieve price stability of gas and electricity.

The two-day multi-topic international symposium, which began here at a local hotel on Friday, is being organized by the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan.

As many as 12 research papers were delivered on the first day while another 11 papers will be read on Saturday. Inaugurating the symposium, Pakistan Engineering Council Chairman Dr Mohammad Akram Shaikh appreciated the role of the IEEEP in developing the career of young engineering students.

He said that Pakistani engineers were fully capable of ensuring accelerated growth in every field. Dr Shaikh, who is also the Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), pointed out that in the past 18 months the engineering industry attained an average growth of about 30 per cent that was really appreciable.

He said that the performance of engineering sector in automotive, electrical as well as mechanical goods, steel and steel products, domestic appliances was unprecedented. However, he said, "We should also improve and streamline our economic highway so that our engineers could be able to exhibit their driving skills."

Dr Shaikh said that with improved infrastructure encompassing physical, technological, legal, financial and intellectual aspects, the country would be able to attain a rapid growth. With the accelerated growth, he added, much more engineers would be required to help cater to our needs.

At present, he said, the total number of engineers in Pakistan was around 100,000 while the expanding manufacturing sector of the country needed 300,000 to 400,000 engineers. He further said that the ratio of scientists and engineers was the lowest in Pakistan as compared to that of other developing countries.

Giving the example of Korea regarding development, he said that almost 20 per cent of federal budget was being spent on education while in Pakistan only two per cent of the budget was being spent on education sector.

Dr Shaikh said that the Higher Education Commission was playing its due role to bring about improvements in the institutions of higher education as well as the faculty in order to help prepare the manpower for contributing their full role towards the national economy.

In his keynote address, Sui Southern Gas Company Managing Director Munawar Baseer highlighted the lack of energy planning in the country. He pointed out that there was no long-term planning in gas sector and added that to meet the demand there was immense need to develop a 20-year long-term policy on macro-level as well as a five-year short term plan.

Mr Baseer said that the projections in energy sector appeared scary and the practical energy consumption in Pakistan was the lowest as compared to that of other countries.

He said that gas was being supplied to 18 per cent population of the country while electricity was reaching to over 50 per cent population. Mentioning that energy is the main driving force for development, he said that the policy makers must do projections and set at least minimum targets as indicators of development.

He stressed the need for integrated planning between gas and electricity sectors. He stressed that the coal treasurers and hydel power should be used effectively. Engineers could play a vital role in policy formulation and planning, he maintained.

Earlier, in his welcome address, IEEEP Chairman Engineer Syed Khursheed Pervez said that his institution provided a platform to students and professional engineers for brainstorming on issues of technical advancement every year. Engr. Irfan Ahmed, the Honorary Secretary of the IEEEP, Karachi Centre, presented the vote of thanks. -APP