CM directs vigorous operation against water theft
How 30 pc losses, theft, tankers make life difficult in Karachi

on 01/02/2023

How to ensure that each and every area of Karachi gets water continues to be a headache for the Sindh government and it, yet again, forced him to launch a drive against water steelers.
Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Chief Minister called all critical officers of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) along with his team and decided to launch a vigorous operation against water theft so that water could be supplied to the starving areas of the city.
Shah reportedly emphasized the KWSB has to improve its overall performance by ushering in the best professional practices in its entire system right from administration to water distribution, and revenue collection to enhancing revenue resources, reducing line losses to completion of its projects in time”.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said the KWSB was responsible for production, transmission, and distribution of water to the people of Karachi and thus should demonstrate its professionalism.
Minister Local Government Nasir Shah, Minister Labour Saeed Ghani, Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, CM Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi, Najmi Alam, Principal Secretary to CM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary LG Najam Shah, former MD Water Board Asadullah Khan, MD Water Board, and chief engineers participated the moot.
The moot was told that the overall water supply to Karachi city was around 406 MGD against a demand of 1000 MGD. A total of 450 MGD water comes from Dhabeji, 100 MGD from Hub, and 30 MGD Gharo.
With such availability of water, the water distribution network laid decades ago has outlived its age. Weaker water pipe joints are causing wastages/leakages of water and thus 30 percent or 174 MGD go into losses. They, as result, have to live with merely 406 MGD against the total availability of 580 MGD.
Nasir Shah’s presentation was enough to put bare the situation. He further told the moot that the power breakdown problem at Dhabeji, Gharo or Hub resulted in an immediate reduction in supply”. Also, change of land use (residential to commercial) unbalanced drawl of water from existing inventory in street/roads.
The chief minister asked how the gape water was being bridged up while having a shortfall of 594 MGD. The reply was: through water tankers. “It means water is available”, Shah said.
Nasir Shah said that all the illegal hydrants have been eliminated and only six legal hydrants were in operation. The chief minister said that the tankers were not going to Keejhar or River Indus to fetch water.
“They are stealing water from the water board system,” the CM said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the chief secretary to coordinate with Rangers, Police, and other related agencies to start a decisive operation against the water theft in the city.
“I want you [KWSB] to take action against the consumers who have installed heavy pumps over water supply pipes and illegal water connection from the main pipes”, he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the water board administration to expedite their schemes for adding more water to the system and up-gradation of the distribution system and replacement of old pipes with new ones.

No work done on      
ML-1 project in
4 years, claims
Saad Rafique

on 01/02/2023

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has expressed serious concern over the fact that no work was done on the important project of Railways ML-1 during the last four years. “Where we left off, no progress has been made since then; even our special unit has been dismantled,” he said.
While presiding over meetings on the current status of ML-1, development plans of railways, and Rabta application last week, the federal minister for railways directed the authorities concerned to review all the legal and technical aspects and submit its report within one week.
The railway minister said that ML-1 is the lifeline of railways. Giving instructions regarding the special purpose vehicle, the minister said it should be restored with immediate effect, and in the present circumstances; the railway administration should reset its priorities so that talks could be held with China in this regard.
During the briefing on the development plans of the railways, the minister urged not to make such a long wish list which is not feasible. Only make plans that can be completed, he added. During the meeting, the minister gave guidelines on rolling stock and infrastructure projects.
The minister also sought details regarding the investment in railways in Gwadar, a rail link from Basima to Gwadar, and the construction of railway station and railway terminal at Gwadar. After the meeting, Secretary Railways and Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Railways also got approved various appointments from the minister. — ERMD

Tarbella-Ghazi Barotha
complex to have Pakistan’s first
Floating Solar Project

on 01/02/2023

Pakistan and World Bank (WB) are set to begin negotiations this month for a 300 Megawatt Floating Solar Project at Tarbella-Ghazi Barotha Complex, reports say. This will be the very first project of this kind in Pakistan.
The bank has already invited Pakistani authorities for negotiation on a US$341.5 million loan for the project that will add to the country’s efforts to gradually switch over to cleaner technologies being encouraged worldwide to face the challllenge of climate change.
These projects are supposed to supply emission-free electricity to meet peak daytime demand in summers and facilitate storage of water in the complex to meet peak demand in winters.
The invitation for talks arrived through the World Bank’s Acting Country Director, Gailius Draugelis who wrote to Secretary Economic Affairs, stating that on behalf of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) collectively, the World Bank, is inviting Pakistan and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to negotiate the proposed IBRD loan and IDA credit for the Floating Solar in Pakistan Project.
The cost of the project is US$346-5 million, of which US$341.5 is proposed for financing by the World Bank and $5 million will be financed by WAPDA, as the Project Implementing Entity, the report added.
The negotiations package mentions an indicative allocation of US$170.5 million as a loan from IBRD and US$171 million as credit from IDA. These allocations will be adjusted before or during the negotiations based on the agreement between the Ministry of Economic Affairs, WAPDA, and the World Bank.
The proposed project’s development objective is to increase clean energy from the Tarbela-Ghazi Barotha Complex, through the development of climate-smart, innovative floating solar and hydropower hybrid operations, to meet peak demand in Pakistan.
The proposed project will finance the installation of two 150 megawatts floating solar plants and their short interconnections to transmission infrastructure in the Tarbela Ghazi-Barotha Complex, environmental and social management instruments’ implementation, project management costs, and technical assistance activities. – ERMD/ER Report

PEC, FPCCI explore areas of mutual interest; create links between
Academia and Industry

on 31/01/2023

PEC Academia-Industrial Linkage Committee (AILC) visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to explore mutual areas of interest, identify industry problems and requirements, and create strong links between Academia and Industry through close coordination.
Amjad Qureshi, Additional Secretary General FPCCI, welcomed the delegation, followed by opening remarks by Engr. Mukhtiar Ali Sheikh, Vice Chairman Sindh PEC. Engr. M. A Jabbar, Vice President of FPCCI, apprised the PEC delegation that FPCCI has been advocating and voicing the collective opinion, concern and aspiration of the private sector and offering assistance to the Government in its effort to promote exports, encourage foreign investment and stimulate economic activities in the country. He further stated that FPCCI was playing an active role in promoting economic activities as well as identifying problems of trade, industry, services, investments, and environment and safeguarding the interest of the private sector through constant dialogue with the government.
Engr. Dr. Zahid Hussain Khand, Convener AILC, highlighted that the main objective of the meeting was to dig out gaps and requirements of the industry and opportunities for linkage through the platform of FPCCI. He further apprised the moot about PEC initiatives such as six-month mandatory On Job Training (OJT) and Paid Internship to narrow the skill gap between industry requirements and engineering students/ graduates. He also asked for FPCCI’s assistance in highlighting the grey areas in the engineering curriculum.
FPCCI appreciated PEC’s initiative for strong academia industrial Linkage through PEC paid internship program. He also assured full support in supply-demand analysis through the FPCCI policy advisory board. Both organizations identified areas of further work such as mining engineering and mineral processing, linkage of large industries close to HEIs, promotion of local cottage industry and goods, tax exemption to facilitate industrial growth and many more.
The other members of AILC who participated in the meeting were Engr. Dr. Zubair Ahmed Shaikh, Engr. Mir Masood Rashid, Engr. Muhammad Imran Khan Cheema, Engr. Mohsin Ali Khan Engr. Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh and Engr. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed Sheikh. — PR

Ecological Impact of Industrial Energy Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Iqbal

on 31/01/2023

Using systems ecology and industrial ecology approaches, rapidly expanding technology can enable a shift of energy generation, water and waste management, and food production toward improved environmental and energy usage standards. There has been a surge in the commercialization of many renewable energy sources in recent years. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, which cause Global changes to the land surface, such as deforestation, have a warming effect resulting warming effect, and increasing concentrations of aerosols that cause a cooling effect are among the main human activities that contribute to global warming, according to scientific consensus.
To support the soil resource, a part of the biomass should be kept on site. Raw biomass is the most common type. However, treated biomass is also an alternative. If the exported biomass is used to make syngas, the process can also be utilized to make biochar, a type of low-temperature charcoal that can be used as a soil additive. Boost soil organic matter to levels not possible with less refractory organic carbon. Land-use changes, which have the potential to create much more emissions than burning fossil fuels alone, are a common criticism leveled towards biodiesel. However, algal biofuel, which can be produced on terrain that is unsuitable for agriculture, could solve this problem. Rapeseed and sunflower oil biodiesel emit 45 percent to 65 percent fewer greenhouse gases than petro-diesel, assuming current production methods and no changes in land usage. However, there is research being done to improve the efficiency of the system. The manufacturing process is underway. Biodiesel made from discarded cooking oil or other waste fat has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85%. Coal combustion has serious health consequences. According to a report published by the World Health Organization in 2008, coal particle pollution claims the lives of around 10,000 people each year around the world. Coal power is 10–100 times more hazardous than electricity generated from natural gas by hydraulic fracturing, owing to the amount of particulate matter exhaled during combustion.
During the extraction, processing, and transportation of oil and gas, large amounts of toxic and non-toxic waste are produced. When incorrectly managed, a few by-products of industry, such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen and sulfur compounds, and spilled oil, can pollute the air, water, and soil to dangerous levels. Petroleum enables various consumer chemicals and products, such as fertilizers and plastics, in addition to fuels like gasoline and liquefied natural gas. Because of its wide range of applications, most alternative energy generation, transportation, and storage technologies can only be achieved now.
Natural gas is generally referred to be the cleanest fossil fuel because it emits less CO2 per joule supplied than coal or oil, as well as significantly fewer contaminants than other fossil fuels. In absolute terms, however, it contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, and this amount is expected to increase.
Electric power systems are made up of various energy generating plants, transmission networks, and distribution lines. Each of these components can have an impact on the environment at various stages of their creation and use, including during building, energy generation, and decommissioning and disposal. Operational impacts (fuel sourcing, global atmospheric and regional pollutants) and construction consequences can be separated (manufacturing, installation, decommissioning, and disposal.
The health risks and greenhouse gas emissions connected with nuclear fission power are much lower than those associated with coal, oil, and gas. However, if containment fails, which can happen in nuclear reactors due to overheated fuels melting and releasing massive amounts of fission products into the environment, there is a “catastrophic danger.”n