Islamabad: Pakistan and the United States announced clean energy initiatives and agreed to advance the transition to renewable energy under the “green alliance” partnership.
The US announced several new programmes to advance its energy cooperation with Pakistan including a $500,000 project to restore electricity infrastructure in the flood-hit areas of southern Sindh province, according to the US Embassy in Pakistan. Other programs included a grant for research and development of electric vehicles at the Lahore University for Management Science (LUMS) and support for a second cohort of the U.S.-Pakistan women in energy scholars programme to support women’s leadership in renewable energy.
These initiatives were announced at the end of the Pakistan-US Energy Security Dialogue, a joint initiative to promote energy security in the two countries. The dialogue was led by Pakistani Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan and US Department of State Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt. The two sides committed to working together in the coming year to help Pakistan reach its goal of 60 per cent renewables by 2030.
Geoffrey Pyatt and US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome also held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well as Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik, and others. PM Shehbaz welcomed the ongoing talks and cooperation between the two countries in trade and investment, health, security and climate change.
Both governments agreed to continue deepening their bilateral partnership through the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework that will help jointly face the climate, environmental, and economic needs through partnership on agriculture, water, and clean energy.
Climate dialogue
At the same time, Pakistan and US officials are continuing a climate and environment dialogue. US Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources Monica Medina is visiting Islamabad and Karachi from March 15-17 to participate in the US-Pakistan Climate and Environment Working Group. She will meet relevant Pakistani officials to address climate and environmental issues including climate-smart agriculture, water management, air quality, conservation, and plastic pollution.
$4.5 million Fertiliser Right project
The US Department of Agriculture has also launched a four-year $4.5 million “Fertilizer Right” project in Pakistan with local partners to help Pakistani farmers use fertilizer more efficiently and effectively, reducing environmental pollution and lowering costs for farmers.
