After the successful implementation of energy friendly dress code in Cabinet Division and Ministry of Water and Power, Secretary Cabinet, Nargis Sethi has taken another initiative of conservation, at lager scale, by declaring Islamabad as model city for energy conservation.
In this regard Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) and Sui Northern Islamabad have been tasked to jointly work for the conservation of water, electricity and Natural Gas in the Capital under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary/Secretary Water and Power.
Under the Slogan of the initiative “Pani, Bijli or Gas bachao—apnee zindagee asan banao” (conserve water, electricity and gas —make your life easy) all these institutions would intensify their efforts to check its supply lines, effectively enforce by-laws against violators and sensitize the public of the utility of conservation.
Ban on use of illuminations or decorative lights, regulation of billboards, rationalization of lights in markets in consultation with market committee, review of building codes for energy conservation, discouraging the use of electric heaters at offices and homes and minimum use of gas heaters and geysers are some of the steps planned under the initiative. Similarly effective monitoring of leakages of the water supply lines would ensured to ensure there is no wastage. School children, members of civil society, media and public servants would be involved to aware the residents of Islamabad about the initiative and secure their support.
The Cabinet Division would coordinate the efforts of all the institutions to prevent any duplication and ensure quick response for improvements in the conservative plan, suggestions and feedback by the pubic, civil society and media would be channeled via regular monitoring and consultations by the Cabinet Division.
The electricity, water and gas so conserved by implementing the initiative would be diverted to education institutions, hospitals and need-based services of larger public interest so that student’s activities do not suffer because of power shortage, patient’s lives do not endanger due to want of electricity and winter does not bring sufferings for housewives due to unavailability of gas.
The initiative is designed on the basis of government’s decisions to present Islamabad as model city to be followed by other cities of the country.
It may be added that according to expert opinion and international best practices energy conservation has proved a great tool of narrowing the demand and supply gap and lead to efficient load management.