The National Assembly Standing Committee of Water and Power unanimously passed the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill, 2015 after considering the proposed amendments. The bill, which would empower the board to implement a fine up to Rs 500,000 for not using efficient power devices, was discussed in detail. Many of the Parliamentarians who were blank about the bill, as documents of the bill were provided to them after the start of the meeting. They were of the view that instead of fixing upper limit of fine the amount of fine should be in accordance with the severity of the crime, for example if some business is not using energy efficient devices it should be fined with the percentage of estimated loss it was incurring to national exchequer. The Committee was informed that ceiling and other fans use 27 per cent of total electricity and if duty on steel sheet used in the manufacturing of fans is lowered and its use is made compulsory, energy efficient fans could be made in the country within very short span of time and without any hassle. A halfhearted effort was witnessed before in 2009, when an $85 million project of distribution of energy savers was approved and sadly a large number of energy savers are still lying with the distribution companies. Before the project could reach its completion, newer, more energy efficient technologies like LED lights enter the market. Where does this money go if the average Pakistani is still using incandescent bulbs? How are we going to address the problem of energy conservation without first raising awareness of this issue and presenting affordable solutions? It was also pointed out that international companies in the country are selling obsolete technology instead of selling devices like air conditioners, meeting international standards of efficiency. The question arises; who is to be held accountable? If the government fails to implement laws that prohibit the discarded, inefficient products of the world to be sold here, how can we hold the expectation from the company itself to ‘do the right thing’ and provide Pakistanis with the latest technology?
pk.shafaqna.com
