US showcases energy partnership at Expo in Lahore

LAHORE – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) showcased its partnership with Pakistan in the energy sector in the two-day International Conference on Energy Conservation and Efficiency 2017 held in Lahore.

USAID Provincial Director for Punjab, Lea Swanson, joined Vice Chancellor University of Engineering and Technology-Lahore (UET-Lahore), Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, CEO Lahore Knowledge Park Dr Zubair Iqbal Ghouri and dignitaries from the government, academia and private sector to inaugurate the conference. Hosted by UET-Lahore, the conference and accompanying exhibition are co-sponsored by the USAID-funded US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E).

Ms Swanson, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony, said: “The US is committed to working together with Pakistan to help meet its growing energy needs. We are supporting Pakistan's infrastructure and operational improvements and promoting policy reforms to help the energy sector function more efficiently and sustainably. The US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy is harnessing applied research to find an innovative and practical solution for Pakistan’s energy challenges.”

The conference brought together engineers, researchers, energy experts, manufacturers and building designers to explore and exchange ideas in the rapidly growing field of energy efficiency and conservation strategies.

The USAID-funded USPCAS-E is a joint initiative between the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), University of Engineering and Technology-Peshawar (UET-Peshawar) and Arizona State University focused on building Pakistan’s expertise to conduct applied research in the field of energy.

As part of the program, approximately 200 graduate students and faculty members from USPCAS-E will conduct applied research on energy at the Arizona State University by 2019. The partnership has also developed curricula, established new laboratories at NUST and UET-Peshawar, and initiated exchange programs.-PR