PESHAWAR (Khyber Mail): The Center for Intelligent Systems and Networks Research (CISNR) at UET Peshawar joined forces with GIZ Pakistan to host a groundbreaking policy seminar at Ramada Karachi as part of the “Energy Efficiency through Digitization” project. The seminar, attended by experts and leaders, addressed the pressing need for effective municipal energy management in Pakistan to combat the evident impacts of climate change.
Ms. Stoyanka Stich, Cluster Coordinator for Climate Change & Energy at GIZ, highlighted the urgency of energy management in mitigating climate change effects and its critical role in fostering a cleaner and greener environment.
In the panel discussion, figures like Deputy Mayor Sukkur Arshad Mughal, Chairman District Council Kashmore Gul Muhammad, Deputy Director of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Zafar Iqbal Qazi, and General Manager of K-Electric, Adnan Ali, actively engaged in deliberations on key policy options for enhancing municipal energy management strategies.
Dr. Gul Muhammad, Project Director at CISNR, presented fifteen policy recommendations formulated during the project, emphasizing their pivotal role. These policy options focused on prioritizing awareness and upskilling for the municipal administrative workforce, exploring incentives and taxation for energy-efficient behaviors, and highlighting the essential role of localized data in implementing energy efficiency measures.
Mohammad Irshad, Project Manager at GIZ, underscored the significance of the policies, stating that they are supported by successful case studies and comprehensive research.
Deputy Mayor Sukkur Arshad Mughal commended CISNR and GIZ for convening the seminar, recognizing substantial progress in KPK and Punjab under the project. He urged CISNR to focus its interventions in Sindh, emphasizing the importance of aligned efforts across regions.
The seminar served as a pivotal platform for robust discussions and collaborative efforts toward enhancing municipal energy management strategies, setting a precedent for concerted action and innovative solutions in combating climate change effects in Pakistan.