News and Updates
News and Updates

Strategic Dialogue on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Organized by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA)

Statement by the Sindh Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (SEECA)

For the Strategic Dialogue on Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Organized by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA)
Date: 19th August 2025
Location: NEECA Headquarters, Islamabad

1:         OPENING REMARKS

We thank NEECA for convening this important Strategic Dialogue and for recognizing the critical role that provincial governments must play in realizing Pakistan’s energy efficiency and conservation goals.

As the national apex body, NEECA’s initiative to foster stronger institutional collaboration is both timely and necessary. The Government of Sindh, through its dedicated Sindh Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (SEECA), welcomes this opportunity to align provincial implementation frameworks with the objectives of the NEECA Policy 2023 and NEEC Action Plan 2023–2030.

2:         SINDH’S ENERGY FOOTPRINT AND ROLE

Sindh, with its large industrial and commerce base is the largest single energy consumer hosting the nation’s largest cities, industrial clusters, refineries, manufacturing, and public sector infrastructure. This energy demand places Sindh in a unique position to deliver measurable results in energy efficiency, emissions reductions, and cost savings.

Recognizing this role, the Government of Sindh established SEECA under the NEECA Act of 2016, with the purpose of driving localized energy efficiency initiatives and contributing to Pakistan’s broader climate and economic goals.

3:         KEY INITIATIVES BY SEECA

SEECA has undertaken several foundational actions in line with NEECA’s mandate, to mention some representative initiative (in the interest of time):

  • Policy & Regulatory Alignment
    • A notification has been issued mandating that all Government of Sindh buildings comply with the Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC‑2023).
    • Municipal authorities have been instructed to align building plan approvals with these codes.
  • Procurement Standards Enforcement
    • SEECA has mandated that all government equipment procurement follows Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) notified by NEECA.
  • Public Outreach and Communication
    • A dedicated website has been launched to promote NEECA’s objectives and make policy resources available to the public.
  • Capacity Building Programs
    • SEECA has conducted targeted training sessions for practitioners and energy users across multiple sectors of the economy.
    • It has also developed a “Home Energy Conservation” program focused specially on women and children the champions at home to conserve.
  • Strategic Planning
    • A 3-year implementation roadmap has been finalized to help achieve the NEECA Action Plan 2023–2030 goals and contribute to Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

4:         ALIGNMENT WITH DIALOGUE OBJECTIVES

Today’s dialogue, as described in the invitation, aims to foster coordination, compliance, and progress tracking between federal and provincial actors. We welcome this approach, but we also wish to highlight critical areas that need urgent alignment and redress.  I hope my comments below will be taken as a genuine shout and our desire to “work together for an energy efficient future” rather that to take as a criticism or complaint.  I also have proposals for the implementable outcomes of the dialogue:

 

5:         GAPS & CHALLENGES:

            We feel that NEECA needs to be proactive and act as our representative in the Federal government and also provide us with the feed back, information, opportunities, and make provinces the implementation arem of the NEECA objectives and programs.  Also NEECA should be the custodians of the b st practices in each province and share the successes and lessons learned of one province with the other.  We find this lacking – and I shall give a few examples:

  1. Disconnect with the activities of other provinces and their achievement:
    • Given that most energy conservation measure (ECMs) will be similar across provinces, it is essential to learn about the success, capacities and lessons learnt with other provinces and not replicate the mistakes, rather build on each others success.  NEECA can act as the central focus of understanding and sharing the national wide programs across provinces and integrate the provincial programs to truly make them a part of national program. Currently there is a great disconnect.
  2. Provincial Exclusion in National Programming
    • The recent national fan replacement initiative was launched without consulting the Government of Sindh or SEECA, despite Sindh being home to a large percentage of  electric fans in use in Pakistan (aprox. 100 million).
  3. Unilateral and Solo flights of NEECA to seek funding for NEECA – thereby crouding out the provinces:
    • The proposed US $150 million World Bank-financed energy project under NEECA currently focuses exclusively on the Federal Capital Territory, with no components for provinces—despite the fact that over 90% of energy users are located outside Islamabad.  The opportunity was never shared with the provices, and no inputs sought or activities planned for the province in this program.

 

  1. Energy Conservation Fund (ECF) Access
    • Though the Fund has existed for 20 years, not a single rupee has been allocated to provinces. There has been no outreach, awareness, or training regarding this fund in Sindh.  We feel that the ECF should have specific allocations for the provinces, and we should be able to propose projects to be undertaken under the ECF.
  2. Lack of Provincial Representation in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) achievement and Reporting
    • The ESCAP-referenced NEECA NDC reporting framework does not mention provincial contributions or roles, although provinces will be central to any such initiative.
  3. Media and Outreach Campaigns
    • National campaigns are designed and implemented at the federal level without adequate provincial input, undermining their relevance and reach.

6:         RECOMMENDATIONS & WAY FORWARD

To ensure that the 2023–2030 Action Plan succeeds in implementation:

Area
Recommendations
Coordination Model
Establish a joint federal-provincial compliance and planning framework, as envisioned in the dialogue.
Funding Allocation
Open the Energy Conservation Fund and international financing windows (e.g., climate, PSDP) to provincial programs.  NEECA should proactively work with the provinces to develop National and Provincial Projects, and actively seek funding at various fora, specially where provinces are at some distance.  For Example the development partners want to go through the EAD, is in easier access to NEECA than its provincial counterparts.
Program Co-Design
 

Ensure provinces are consulted from the outset on new programs, pilots, and campaigns.

 
Institutional Strengthening and capacity Building
Allocate / Share technical and financial resources with provinces (SEECA/PEECA)  to fulfill their  assigned roles effectively.
Data Sharing & Reporting
 

 

Empower provinces to collect and report on EE&C progress, feeding into national compliance mechanisms.

 
Media Campaign Localization
Design and roll out awareness campaigns through provincial channels and cultural contexts, and when targeting the industrial or agriculture sector, with a view on the nature of interventions needed and the maturity level of the industry, for which campaign is launched.

 

Recognize the differences in provincial energy consumption and conservation patters and address them proactively. Recognize that the conditions, needs, and best practices of each province may differ, and programs must be designed accordingly. For example, weather patterns and climate variations affect the load curves of cities like Karachi and Islamabad differently. The nature of industry in Sindh is significantly different from that in Punjab or Balochistan, and therefore, specific programs must be tailored to address these unique requirements. Similarly, cropping patterns and agricultural practices vary across provinces, influencing both energy usage and the potential for conservation. NEECA must move beyond an internally focused approach and become a proactive leader—one that not only identifies and shares opportunities but also brings provincial perspectives to the appropriate national and international platforms.

 

CLOSING REMARKS

The NEEC Action Plan 2023–2030 presents a strong national vision. However, that vision can only be realized if the provinces—who are the custodians of over 90% of the energy demand—are integrated meaningfully into its design, implementation, and funding.

We reiterate SEECA’s commitment to work in full partnership with NEECA and all national stakeholders. We are not asking for preference—only for participation, partnership, and parity.

Let us use this Strategic Dialogue not just to share ideas, but to build mechanisms that ensure sustained and structured provincial engagement in Pakistan’s energy future.

We thank NEECA again for this initiative and look forward to concrete steps emerging from today’s dialogue.