A number of energy-generating companies from the public and private sector of Sweden are willing to offer greentech solutions to the energy-starved Pakistan.
“I am overwhelmed by the great interest shown by the participants here in different Swedish energy-related technologies,” Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Hjalmar Wide told reporters here at a seminar on “The Case for Swedish Greentech in Pakistan”.
Terming the event as a first step in the right direction, the Swedish envoy said the next step would be the arrival of Swedish businessmen in Pakistan to look for ways and means to jointly work with the local stakeholders in the energy sector.
Also, he said, his country was in contact with local stakeholders for the export of mangoes and other agricultural products. “This, however, will take some time to materialise,” the ambassador said.
“The European Union is working on a five-year engagement plan for Pakistan to engage the country on issues of mutual interest ranging from trade relations to joint counter-terrorism efforts,” Wide said.
The 27-nation regional block, he said, would also send electoral observers to Pakistan to monitor transparency in forthcoming general election due in mid-May in the country.
Honorary Consul General of Sweden Bashir Ali Mohammad dubbed the Pak-Swedish future joint ventures as much helpful for Pakistan’s energy needs saying the Swedish had the required know-how and finances to share with Pakistan. “The ball is now in our court whether or not we avail this opportunity,” Mohammad said.
He said Pakistan, particularly Karachi, had a great potential for energy production using the Swedish greentech technology. “We have a big slaughter house in Landhi (Karachi), cattle farms and a vast meat industry that provides a natural potential,” said the honorary consul general.
He said the Swedish side had completed their first round and as a second step it would come back on a weeklong visit to Pakistan to visit local industries to see how the waste can be capitalised on.
In her address, Charlotte Kalin of CTS underlined various opportunities for promoting bilateral trade between the two countries and how CTS could facilitate Pakistani firms to find partners, customers and new markets in Sweden and Scandinavia.