The 7th Pakistan Energy Forum 2015, with the theme “streamlining energy priorities for developmental and economic growth” concluded on Friday with distinguished speakers providing strategic insight on all critical issues and opportunities in the oil, gas, power, and alternatives industry of Pakistan.
Experts stressed on the need to stabilise prices and foster investments, while ensuring optimum supply of fossil fuels and other energy resources in the country. All stakeholders renewed their commitment for proactive operational enhancements to ensure a robust future.
Former minister of finance Dr Salman Shah opined: “The main task of the government is to devise and implement frameworks for a vibrant competitive energy market in Pakistan”.
In his concluding remarks of the final session, Werner Liepach, Country Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB), said Pakistan had great potential for indigenous resources. The key challenge to unlock this potential is the creation of the right policies and incentive structures to attract the required capital.
A cross-section of delegates from government, regulatory bodies, power-generation enterprises, oil and gas companies, stakeholders, provincial energy organisations, and members of the diplomatic corps attended the day-long conference.
Organised in collaboration with key stakeholder groups, research-partnership with the SDPI, and supported by the energy department, government of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited, Ocean Pakistan Ltd, Reon Energy Ltd, HUBCO, Laraib Energy Ltd and Presson Descon International Ltd.
Various concerned government ministries and regulatory authorities also extended valuable support and participated in the forum.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Menin Rodrigues, Chairman of the Conference & CEO of SHAMROCK Communication (Pvt) Limited, appreciated the efforts of the sector specialists and emphasized the emerging opportunities and challenges in fuelling the industrial and domestic sectors of Pakistan.
He also invited the sector specialists to realign their growth strategy for taking advantage of the revolutionary trends and a paradigm shift occurring in the global oil and gas industry.
Addressing the overall theme of the conference, Dr Gulfaraz Ahmed, former secretary petroleum, and a learned scholar said, “E&P companies in Pakistan can limit the impact of decrease in revenue due to falling oil price by concentrating on high ranging exploration prospects and consolidating their discoveries through focus on development and enhancement in production.”
Among the speakers included Muhammad Rafi, Managing Director, OGDCL; Ms Maha Kamal, Energy Analyst, and Engr Arshad H Abbasi of SDPI; Mr Ishteqaq A Kaukab, Chief Engineer WAPDA, Mr Qasim Niaz, Chairman, IPPAC; Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman, National Expert of Climate Change; Syed Imran Shah, Project Director, FFC Energy; Dr Nayyer, Physicist, QA University, Islamabad; Mr. Shaukar Aziz Popalzai, President, Balochistan Economic Forum, Mr Raziuddin, CEO, KP Oil & Gas Company and Ms Lubna Pathan, DG, Punjab Board of Investment.