ISLAMABAD: The US on Wednesday announced several new programs to advance its energy cooperation with Pakistan, including a $500,000 project to restore electricity infrastructure in the flood-hit areas of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, a joint statement issued by the US Embassy in Pakistan said.
The announcement was made during the Pakistan-US Energy Security Dialogue, a joint initiative to promote energy security and serves as a platform for high-level discussions between the two countries.
The dialogue features discussions on bilateral energy priorities, advancing renewable energy transition, and exploring economic and commercial opportunities in the energy sector.
During the event, officials and experts from both sides spoke on energy issues and areas for cooperation, including Pakistan’s renewable energy transition, electric vehicles, and increasing women’s participation in the energy sector, the statement added.
“Through the Energy Security Dialogue, the two governments made new commitments to advance energy cooperation and the United States announced new programs in Pakistan, including a $500,000 project to restore electricity infrastructure in flood-affected areas in Sindh”, the US Embassy’s statement said.
Devastating floods in Pakistan last year killed over 1,700 people, washed away swathes of agricultural land, destroyed millions of homes, and led to estimated losses worth $30 billion.
The US also announced a grant to advance the research and development of electric vehicles at the Lahore University for Management Sciences. It also expressed support for a second cohort of the US-Pakistan Women’s Council’s Future of Women in Energy Scholars Program to support women’s leadership in renewable energy, the statement added.
After the conclusion of the event, US assistant secretary for energy resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The prime minister appreciated holding the Pakistan-US Energy Security Dialogue in promoting energy security which would be beneficial for both countries,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office added.
Pyatt also lauded Pakistan for its forward-looking renewable energy policy.
