ISLAMABAD: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Tuesday
launched a project, Sustainable Energy Initiative for industries aimed at helping the industrial
sector to explore options of alternative energy for industrial sector development in Pakistan.
The launching ceremony was attended by stakeholders both from the industrial sector and senior
officials of the Ministry of Industries and Production, besides representatives of the departments
concerned.
Ambassador of EU delegation to Pakistan, UN resident coordinator in Pakistan and senior
officials of the Ministry of Industries and Production and Climate Change and representative of
various organisations including Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), National
Productivity Organisation (NPO) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority
(SMEDA) attended the ceremony.
Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, mentioned that the sustainable development
goals called SDGs are very important for Pakistan and this project in particular is important. He
said that it will not only directly address SDG-9 that is industry innovation and infrastructure,
which in fact falls under the domain of UNIDO, but it is going all the way taking care of other
SDGs such as no poverty, food and hunger and even others.
Esam Alqararah, UNIDO representative in Pakistan, highlighted the importance and role of
UNIDO during its 40 years of presence in the country regarding sustainable development of
Pakistani industrial sector.
In his introductory remarks about the project, Alois Mhlanga, the visiting project manager,
highlighted about various approaches, which have been successfully applied to promote energy
efficiency and renewable energy in other parts of the world.
Additional secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production and Smeda chief executive
officer also spoke on the occasion.
UNIDO is implementing a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project in the industrial
sector and the launch of SEI is to avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by developing and
promoting a market environment.
This step will stimulate investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in
industry, which in turn will support industrial development in the country.