LAHORE: Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) have proposed the concept of "Energy Democracy" in the country, which can be implemented by creating Private-Public Partnership's Consortiums to overcome the exceeding energy crisis in Pakistan.
The concept was discussed today at a meeting of PCJCCI's Think Tank presided over by PCJCCI President Zarak Khan. He hoped that introducing energy democracy in Pakistan, the government can ensure efficiency, investment, and reduced tariffs to resolve energy crisis. Pakistan can conduct participatory forms of decision enabling people to get involved in the energy democracy projects to ensure public ownership also in distribution of energy, he said.
He said that world had built 45,000 large dams so far while Pakistan had built only two large dams with 7 percent of world's irrigated area, which shows the criminal neglect in safeguarding the life-giving waters. Currently China's installed capacity of electricity generation is among the highest i.e. 1,260 million GW, whereas Pakistan has an installed capacity of 22, 143 MW but it produces only 11,000 MW due to line losses, delayed payments, line rents and poor maintenance of the Hydro machinery, he added.
PCJCCI Senior Vice President, Moazzam Ghurki pointed out that if Pakistan is to develop at a faster pace to attain 7 to 8 percent GDP growth, then it is imperative to address its energy needs. Pakistan is currently short of energy between 5,000 to 8,000 MW, therefore like many developed countries Pakistan should establish energy suppliers owned by the public on local, regional and cooperative basis.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020