LAHORE
The PML-N may have considerable room in claiming the success, especially in energy sector, at the end of its tenure, as Asian Development Bank (ADB) has started preparing an analytical report of progress made, and would evaluate achieving targets in resolving the electricity issues during the 2010–2016 period, highly placed sources confirmed.
They told Pakistan Today that the report would be finalised and distributed by May 2018, comprising analysis of the lessons learned from the changing realities, and would propose recommendations as inputs for a new energy policy to the upcoming government. The report will also review subsector policies and regulations with the government, international development partners, and the private sector.
They said that the analysis would evaluate progress and formulate inputs that would be fed into Pakistan’s new energy policy for the medium term (2018–2023) energy sector strategy, including lessons, recommendations, and implement action plans for key subsectors.
The findings will be designed to inform the government on past progress and provide options for the future energy strategy of the country.
The report will be based on the recommendations of 2010 FODP report, ADB’s experience in the sector, other related knowledge products and the government’s recently implemented strategic policy initiatives in the sector, and recent global technology- and energy-related developments, like drop in fossil fuel prices, shale revolution, and improvements in renewable energy technologies (solar and wind) to reduce prices.
They said that discussion on the draft final report would be circulated among stakeholders by February 2018 and a final consultative group meeting would be held to consolidate inputs and finalise the report by March 2018.
ADB engaged 2 international and 3 national consultants, an energy economist, and an energy sector and electricity subsector specialist whereas an energy finance and regulatory expert, a hydrocarbon expert, an energy efficiency and renewables’ expert providing support the international specialists with fieldwork, data collection, and subsector analyses.
The technical assistance is estimated to cost $ 510,000, The government is providing counterpart support in the form of staff support, office space, access to data, and by hosting meetings of stakeholders, and other in-kind contributions amounting to $ 10,000. The value of government contribution is estimated to account for 2 per cent of the total technical assistance cost.
The FODP in 2009, recognising the impact of persistent energy shortages on the economy and livelihoods, solicited the preparation of a sustainable and integrated energy plan for Pakistan. The government and ADB led the effort by creating the Pakistan Energy Sector Task Force to prepare an energy sector recovery report with a comprehensive roadmap for mobilising international assistance and a recommended action plan to solve energy security problems. The governments of the United States, Japan, and Germany, among other development partners, formed the core team with the chairs and finalised the report in October 2010, which was presented to the ministerial meeting of the FODP comprising 24 countries and institutions.
