The global discourse on the utilization of renewable sources pivots around its sustainability and reduce cost of building the infrastructure once it is installed in its intended period. Energy through nuclear plants is sustainable, affordable, environment friendly and returns the cost of its infrastructure. It requires strict safety apparatus for nuclear plants/ facilities. The issue of nuclear safety; after the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster and past nuclear disasters like Chernobyl has profoundly influenced the global regime for nuclear safety.
In fact, the case against nuclear power generation was not as vehement prior to Fukushima disaster in 2011. Similarly, the international propaganda campaign against the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal after the terrorist attacks on Army General Head Quarters (GHQ) in 2009, PNS Mehran in 2011 and Kamra Air Base in 2012 has intensified. Pakistan is internationally acknowledged to be capable of safeguarding its nuclear facilities. It has a robust command and control structure since 2000 through which it can protect its nuclear facilities and its nuclear security apparatus can preempt and prevent any malicious activity against it.
This edition on ” Energy Crisis and Nuclear Safety & Security of Pakistan” is not a mere reproduction of the proceeding of the conference on ” Energy Crisis and Nuclear Safety & Security of Pakistan” .All the papers and the transcripts in the conference were critically reviewed at the SVI and upgraded by the authors who were very kind to afford time of their busy professional engagements. Despite considerable problems in its formative phase, SVI has succeeded in the bringing out this (second) edited book based upon the conference proceedings which are a significant contribution in the existing literature on the vital issues in the field of Pakistan’s energy crisis and nuclear safety & security. The edition offers in depth analyses of the problems Pakistan faces in the above field and identifies the available and affordable alternative options. Equally insightful is the security issues based upon the lesson drawn from the international experiences and culturally established ethos and standards.
In his opening address in the conferences, Dr. Zafar Iqbal Cheema, President /Executive Director of the Strategic Vision Institute, expressed his gratitude to the Excellences, distinguished guests, and the students from the universities, colleagues, friends speaker’s chair of SVI’s conference on “Energy Crisis and Nuclear Safety & Security of Pakistan”. He stated that on the behalf of SVI, we are extremely privileged to have such an august audience in the conference. Dr. Cheema appreciated and thankfully acknowledged the support and financial contribution of the Konrad-Adenuaer-Shiftung (KAS) in the Successful organization of conference.
Mr. Ronny Heine, Resident Representative KAS, in his introductory remarks, welcomed the participants, guests, speakers and chairs in the conference. Giving the background of KAS, he said, Konrad –Adenauer-Shifting is named after the first German Chancellor, Konard Adenauer, who brought democracy, rule of law, and social market economy to Germany. Germany has been following that path of 60 years. The Foundation operates with the funds from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. KAS run almost 80 offices in different parts of the world. Its office in Islamabad was established in 2008. He expressed profound pleasure to cooperate with strategic Vision Institute. The partnership is based on trust and mutual cooperation, for which he thanked Mr. Ross Masood Hussian and Dr. Zafar Iqbal Cheema. The participants in the conference are well educated and it gives a lot of hope in initiating a dialogue in the society regarding this crisis.
The subject selected for the two days conference and this upgraded edition is of great importance in the developing countries like Pakistan, which is already suffering from an acute shortage of energy and needs long lasting solutions to end the energy crisis. Pakistan desperately needs to develop and secure its energy resources to sustain economic growth, which is already suffering from this energy crisis. Energy crisis is one of Pakistan’s biggest crises which is also impinges upon its national security. Therefore it is not only important to utilize the latent sources of energy more efficiently in Pakistan, but also explore alternative (renewable) energy resources and nuclear energy to cater its growing energy demands. This edition aims to create awareness on the energy demands. This edition aims to create awareness on the energy crisis, and to contribute and supplement efforts of the Government of Pakistan in order to chalk out more robust and effective energy policy to deal with this lingering energy crisis.
