Message from CEO, Alternative Energy, Development Board

I am pleased to extend my heartiest felicitations to the Renewable & Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP) for its initiative to organise the 2nd International Expo and Conference on October 13-15, 2012 at Convention Center, Islamabad.
Energy crisis is not just the crisis of load shedding in the urban centers. More than 70 Million people in Pakistan are not even connected to the grid. More than 135 Million people do not have access to the natural gas gird and yet we see load shedding of electricity and gas in all sectors of the economy. While the Government subsidizes the power sector to the tune of over Rs 1 Million per minute, the yearly oil import bill may exceed the total export earnings of Pakistan.
It is, therefore, essential that we should very quickly reduce our dependence on imported fuel and shift to domestic resources, abundantly available and cheaper options that Pakistan is blessed with by Almighty Allah. It is in this connection that the work of REAP takes another and much higher dimension of, on the one hand providing cheap clean energy to replace the existing polluting and expensive sources, while on the other reaching out to the poor and those, who do not have access to the modern fuels and thus are down the energy ladder.
REAP has been serving as a platform for technical collaboration between technology providers and users, while networking its members with international developers and ARE associations across the world. Participation by international manufacturers of PV Modules & Components and Production Equipment, Distributors, EPC Contractors, Project Developers, Research & Testing Institutes, Supply Industry and Engineering Consultancies in the Energy Expo would help in developing a base for all such vital areas in the country. The REAP Members, I trust, would fully utilise the opportunity.
The recommendations emerging from the deliberations of the Conference and the experiences gained from the Energy Expo would further accelerate the pace of development of ARE technologies in the country. I am sure that REAP will continue to move forward to achieve its goals with added zest and zeal. I, on my own behalf and on behalf of AEDB, wish the REAP Management all success in their endeavors.