Pakistan joins global renewable energy body

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has joined International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) after signing the statutes in Berlin to become the 87th member of the newly set up world body on renewable energy.

Pakistan 's Ambassador to Germany, Shahid Ahmad Kamal signed the statutes at the German foreign office in the presence of Thomas Meister, Head of Division for International Energy Policy at the German Federal Foreign Office.

Ambassador Kamal noted that Pakistan had participated in the preparatory conferences and workshops of the IRENA and continue to make its positive contributions. He said Pakistan's supported in the formation of the IRENA had been acknowledged by the German government. The ambassador also mentioned the AEDB's contribution in Pakistan's accession to the IRENA saying it could not have been possible without the AEDB's support.

The International Renewable Energy Agency was established on 26th January 2009 in Bonn . Germany was one of the driving forces along with Spain and Denmark for this venture. Together with the German Ministries of Environment (BMU) and Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Foreign Office has campaigned for the IRENA and helped secure the necessary international support by dispatching special envoys and launching a global demarche effort. IRENA was solely dedicated to the promotion of renewable energy, and its membership is open to all United Nations member States. The IRENA welcomed Pakistan into its folds saying: "The signing exemplifies the world demand for a strengthened use of renewable energy technology." Now being a member of the preparatory commission, Pakistan would participate in its second session slated for 29-30 June 2009 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), when the agency's interim headquarters and the Interim Director-General would be elected.

Pakistan had on January 26, 2009 participated in the signing ceremony of the founding treaty of the International Agency for Renewable Resources (IRENA) in Bonn (Germany). The AEDB Chief Executive Arif Alauddin represented Pakistan at the ceremony.

The AEDB had been nominated as the focal body by Government of Pakistan for coordination with IRENA. Speaking on the occasion Alauddin said: "After becoming the full member of IRENA we want to contribute to the sustainable development of renewable energies' vast global potential. This will also benefit those who don't have access to the electricity and thus are unable to use development opportunities to the same extent." He further said Pakistan would play its role in helping IRENA achieve its objective of becoming the main driving force for promoting a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. staff report

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