National Energy Research Agenda

Significant human and financial investments have been made in Pakistan’s energy research infrastructure. There is now an urgent need to align these resources strategically to address national needs. Arizona State University took the lead in working with the energy research institutions of Pakistan to identify current strengths and capacities. The goal is to form a network of researchers that can work together to meet the country’s energy research needs. This consultative session was organized by ASU to discuss the direction of future energy research.  Researchers from nine centers attended the event (see participant list below).

Dr. Sayfe Kiaei provided a summary of the meeting objectives and explained why there is a need to formulate an energy research agenda for Pakistan. All participants introduced themselves and shared their center’s research areas and activities. The group reviewed a draft energy research agenda prepared by ASU, and Dr. Ghulam Sarwar from the Higher Education Commission shared HEC research funding opportunities under their newly established governance structure. The presentation included details of HEC’s Local Challenge Fund, Grand Challenge Fund, Technology Development Fund, National Research Program for Universities, and Technology Transfer Support Fund.

Next Steps

• Centers are encouraged to pursue proposals in their respective domains through HEC’s Grand Challenge Fund; the call for proposals will be announced between June and September 2020.
• Develop a new proposal to resolve the procurement issues affecting research work to replace the current Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules for HEC funding.
• Review the draft energy research agenda prepared by ASU and provide written feedback, especially related to challenges that have not been addressed, such as energy policy.
• Develop a concept note on research ideas and titles for HEC’s Grand Challenge Fund.
• Create a single platform that offers a hub of solution providers from industry, academia and government that can meet the energy research needs of Pakistan.
• Create a plan detailing ways to maximize Pakistan’s:
  • hydropower potential
  • existing power capacity and promoting efficient usage
  • scientific expertise for policy formulation and implementation.
• Seek investment in agricultural energy technologies and renewables such as bioethanol energy.

Participants

• Dr. Sayfe Kiaei, Professor, Arizona State University
• Dr. Ghulam Sarwar, Program Coordinator, Higher Education Commission
• Dr. Muhammad Munir Ahmed, Director General, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
• Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmed, Principal, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Punjab University
• Dr. Irfan Mufti, Dean, University of Engineering & Technology Peshawar
• Dr. Naveed Arshad, Associate Professor, Lahore University of Management Sciences
• Dr. Bashir Ahmad, Director, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
• Dr. Ehsan Ali, Professor, Punjab Bioenergy Institute, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
• Dr. Khalid Khawaja, Assistant Professor, U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, National University of Sciences & Technology
• Dr. Tanveer Iqbal, Chairman Chemical Engineering Department, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore
• Dr. Mustafa Anwar, Assistant Professor, U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, National University of Sciences & Technology
• Dr. Adeel Javed, Assistant Professor, U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, National University of Sciences & Technology
• Dr. Shahid Imran, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore
• Dr. Anjum Rasheed, Assistant Professor, Centre for Climate Research and Development, COMSATS University