ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday emphasised the need for reorganising energy architecture by ending slab-based tariff and instead incentivisingthe use ofelectricity.

They said this during a oneday seminar titled `Pakistan`s Energy Crisis: Role of Nuclear Power` hosted by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), which brought together stakeholders from different organisations, including experts and scholars.The seminar was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of nuclear energy for Pakistan`s socioeconomic development and for mitigation of climate change.

Itfeaturedkeynote addresses delivered by distinguished speakers including former adviser, finance ministry Dr Khagan Hassan Najeeb, former Nepra chairman Tauseef H.

Faroogi and ex-senator Mushahid Hussain Syed.

Head Planning and Economic Studies Section, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr Henri Paillere was also one of the speakers on virtual medium.

In his keynote address, Dr Khagan Najeeb stressed the need for dynamic modeling in energy sector.

He said the nuclear story was worth telling because plantsrun for a period of 60 to 80 years with additional edge of energy security as 14 to 18 months of fuel was loaded at a time. In this way, fuel price fluctuation issues are avoided unlike other sources,he added.

Tauseef H. Faroogi said the only criterion in selecting which electron was the most suitable should be the one which was affordable, reliable and sustainable and nuclear fulfilled all these characteristics.

He also quoted the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said that `without nuclear it is very hard to reach our target of emission and carbon free energy`.

Dr Afia Malik of PIDE also addressed the seminar and said that after the decision of the government to discontinue supply of gas to captive powerplants, nuclear presented a viable option.

Former director general, climate change ministry, Irfan Tariq highlighted the climate change issues and role of nuclear power in its mitigation.

Syed Mohammad Ali, prominent analyst, spoke about role of nuclear power in energy security.

Former foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and ex-member Planning Commission Syed Akhtar Ali chaired the sessions.

Mushahid Hussain Syed paid rich tributes to scientists associated with the nuclear programme and stressed that it was important for Pakistan to shift from fossil fuel to clean options including nuclear power.

He acknowledged that nuclear power was clean, green and worked as a stimulus for socio-economic growth.