Energy Think Tank meets to discuss energy needs of Pakistan

On July 9, 2018, the U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE) at Arizona State University organized the first Energy Think Tank meeting in Islamabad. It was facilitated by Dr. Clark Miller, a professor at Arizona State University. A total of 37 faculty and staff from NUST and UET Peshawar, government representatives, USAID officials, and private industrialists participated in this session.

Many felt that Pakistan needs to take up the challenge of expanding robust and diverse energy research institutions and capabilities, guide the work of those institutions to meaningfully advise policy, grow the training programs to ensure the availability of highly trained energy policy and engineering professionals, and create the networks and institutional engagement for ensuring that high-quality research effectively informs energy policy choices.

The creation of an energy think tank at USPCASE offers a critical opportunity to establish an effective partnership between universities and policymakers to oversee the pursuit and achievement of these goals.

This meeting provided an opportunity for numerous stakeholders to weigh in on how such a think tank should be designed and operated.

“A good thought provoking session. The need is to transfer knowledge and technological developments into competitive policy regimes that encourage applied research,” remarked a participant.