TAXILA, Feb 20: Alternative sources of energy are the only answer to growing energy requirements of the country.

This was the crux of a day-long solar energy workshop held at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, on Tuesday.

It was organised by the university’s mechanical engineering department in collaboration with various public and private sector originations including the Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology (PCRET), the Alternative Energy Development Board and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Speakers said solar power was a cost-effective and reliable alternative energy source that could be explored to meet both domestic and commercial needs.

They said there were places in Pakistan that experienced upto 350 days of sunshine in a year, adding that vast areas in Balochistan and Sindh provinces could be brought into use for solar and wind energy production.

In his presidential address, Punjab Governor Lt-Gen (retired) Khalid Maqbool said countries confronting energy crisis could not prosper in the present times of rapid industrialisation.

Pakistan is one of the countries facing shortage of gas and electricity. The country has abundant natural resources that are to be exploited fully.

Presenting the example of hydroelectric potential, he said at present 5,400MW energy was being generated against the potential of 46,000MW.

However, he noted that the government had taken a number of steps for the development of energy sector. “The credit goes to President Gen Pervez Musharraf who has liberalised oil and gas exploration policy to attract international companies.”

In order to meet the ever-increasing energy demands, it has been decided to build a number of big and small water reservoirs including Kalabagh, Diamir-Basha, Akhori and Munda dams.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary Dr Rozeena Tufail said due to certain reasons renewable and alternative energy resources were not being utilised properly.

She said 80 per cent of the Balochistan population living in rural areas could be provided electricity generated through wind and solar energy.

UET Taxila Vice-Chancellor Dr Habibullah Jamal said through the use of solar energy we could meet domestic as well as industrial requirements on sustained basis, besides ensuring a clearer environment.

UECT expansion: The governor on Tuesday said that government had provided Rs240 million for expansion of University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila.

He was giving his annual address to the faculty members and PhD students of the UET Taxila on Tuesday. Over 46 students are doing their PhD here.

He said the Punjab government had given Rs108 million while the Higher Education Commission had allocated Rs11.70 million for various academic and non-academic development projects, besides construction of new departments and provision of different facilities to the students and academic staff.

He said under the Punjab government-funded projects, an approach road, costing Rs30 million, to the university was nearing completion. He said that a girl hostel for 200 students was under construction, which would cost Rs36 million.

For the foreign faculty accommodation, a hostel was being constructed and 62 per cent work on the project has been completed and it would cost Rs12 million, while a library costing Rs30 million has already been completed, which would be inaugurated soon.

Under the HEC-financed programme, different projects worth Rs11.70 million are being undertaken at UET Taxila.