By Bilal Zuberi

Reportedly, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is encouraging the use of alternative energy sources in Pakistan.

“We must make the best use of untapped energy potential in the form of wind and solar energy to meet the growing requirements in the long-term. This has become all the more important in the face of soaring oil prices… Mounting energy requirements on the back of robust industrial growth demand that the country exploit its hydropower capacity as well as benefit from abundant alternative energy means.â€Â?

This could be a much needed leadership stance to at least explore what alternative energy sources can become available for Pakistan in the future. Researchers in Pakistani universities should jump on this opportunity to take lead in unleashing energy stored in solar, wind, water/tidal, bio-fuels, hydrogen, coal, gas, nuclear and other alternative fuels. Energy derived from alternative sources can not only be renewable, but also cheap, clean and locally accessible.

For example, last year, nearly $1.6 billion of venture capital investments in the US were made in the clean-technology industry, and they have exceeded the total investments in semi-conductor industry . How and where is Pakistan positioning itself in this next technology boom? There is a huge potential for an agriculture based economy like Pakistan to trade up in value derived from its crops.

Pakistan is already going to make a move from diesel to CNG (starting 2007). In the past, chairman of the Alternative Energy Development Board of Pakistan, has also announced that Pakistan will derive 650MW of energy from wind sources, and up to 9700 MW (5% of total installed capacity) by 2030.

Is the alternative energy/renewable fuel/environmental movement finally catching interest in government circles? How can we help strengthen their resolve (if it is real and not just hot air) and bring other necessary resources to the table?

Dr. Bilal Zuberi is Vice President of Product Development at GEO2 Technologies in Boston (MA), USA. (See more at Bilal’s blog).

Adil Najam

June 26 was the International Anti-Drugs Day. This picture, published in the Daily Times (27 June, 2006), was taken at an anti-drugs rally in Islamabad. I thought that the expression on the dholl-wallah’s face was so perfect as was his posture. Its as if he is personally going to ‘beat’ drugs out of the addicts.

Adil Najam

Last week–before the damper was put on the opening of Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistan with an India-Pakistan Gala–ATP readers were commenting on how Pakistanis don’t seem to value or ‘own’ our Mughal heritage and history as much as our neighbors to the East. At that time I had mentioned the wonderfully evocative song and video produced by Shoaib Mansoor on the legend of Anarkali as part of his Supreme Ishq series, and promised to place it here. So, here goes.

Click on arrow at center, or view it directly here:

The question was also raised about the authenticity of the legend of Anarkali. On this, I have nothing to say and will leave it to more learned readers to add something. My own sense is that the stories that have caught the public imagination are nearly certainly not true; simply because there are so many and so contradictory. However, there was probably something there and maybe even a real person by that name. There certainly is a ‘mazaar’ in Lahore where, supposedly, she lies buried inside a wall. (What was wrong with these Mughal Emperors, why so much needless drama!). But on allof this, and more, I remain ready to be corrected.