NDF Public Forum in Nawabshah demands prioritizing Green Energy in Political Parties’ Manifestos

NAWABSHAH: Grow Green Network, a group of 22 civil society organizations in Pakistan,

has demanded that all the political parties work in harmony to resolve energy issues. In

this regard, NDF Pakistan in collaboration of Indus Consortium conducted a Public

Forum “Political Engagement for Renewable Energy Acceleration in Pakistan” on

Wednesday at local Hotel, Nawabshah. Representatives of political parties, academia,

social activists, media and students participated in the forum. The purpose of the

dialogue was to pursue political parties for the inclusion of clean energy demands in

their public manifestos. Mr. Abid Lashari President NDF, Mr. Gul Amin additional Director

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Mr. Sabir Qureshi, Mr. Riaz Shar and others said

that the country should not rely on fossil-fuel-based energy generation projects,

instead, renewable energy projects should be identified and policies should be

designed for the acceleration towards such projects. According to the Pakistan

Economic Survey 2022-23, Pakistan has 41,000 MW of installed electricity capacity, with

thermal power plants accounting for 58.8% of this capacity, primarily reliant on

imported fuels, making the country energy insecure.it was further said that the

untargeted power sector subsidies, institutional constraints, and wrong policy

directions have further burdened the economy with circular debt. The solution lies in

immediate energy reform, including institutional overhaul and reduced reliance on

imported fossil fuels, shifting towards clean energy sources. The forum agreed that the

major issues plaguing the energy sector include growing circular debt – already

exceeding 4 trillion rupees, financial constraints leading to power shortages, reliance

on imported resources, and an unbalanced energy generation mix. Moreover, Pakistan

is the 8th most climate change-vulnerable nation. Recent monsoons caused

devastating floods with estimated damages and economic losses of over $30 billion.

Despite being responsible for only 0.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan

faces the adverse impacts of climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, heavy

rainfall, and floods, leading to food insecurity, livelihood losses, and economic decline.

The dialogue demanded that Pakistan should pursue a climate-resilient development

pathway to adapt to climate challenges. Reparations are vital for developing nations

facing climate change issues, making it imperative for Pakistan to transition towards

sustainable energy sources to address these pressing issues. The public forum

demanded political parties support residential-scale off-grid solar PV projects in areas

with limited connectivity, focusing on impoverished communities. Link this scheme

with existing State Bank of Pakistan’s RE incentives, ensuring equitable distribution

through social welfare programs. Technology transfer programs should be introduced

to promote Bagasse-based power projects in rural Pakistan. These initiatives can

provide sustainable employment opportunities and clean energy sources, boosting

community resilience. Political parties embrace innovation in addressing climate

change, including nature-based solutions like community-led afforestation. This can

potentially earn “Carbon Credits” for Pakistan and stimulate economic activity in

affected regions. The political parties should discourage further expansion of LNG

terminals and promote clean energy alternatives to reduce environmental and

financial costs and lower the carbon footprint. Focus on enhancing mangrove cover

along coastal regions by involving local fishing communities. The dialogue

recommended the implementation of a ‘benefit sharing model for the community’

within policy frameworks. This model allows communities near renewable energy

projects to share in revenue, fostering ownership and acceptance. Prioritise local

community employment and capacity-building throughout the project lifecycle. About

Indus Consortium: Indus Consortium is an umbrella organization of 64 CSOs and

academic institutions working for humanitarian, development and environmental

initiatives. It aims to advocate Just Energy Transition as a community-centric model of

growth for Pakistan through knowledge products, capacity building of grassroots

communities, and outreach initiatives. The consortium is encouraging all political

parties to integrate sustainable development and just energy transition goals into their

election manifestos.