Saudi Arabia- Experts call for greener development  

(MENAFN - Arab News) Expressing concern over global warming, experts called for immediate preventive measures to minimize its effects by adopting greener technologies in a seminar held at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's auditorium here on Wednesday.

They said engineers and scientists around the world are using the graphical system design platform to make a positive impact on our global ecosystem. From the development of more energy-efficient systems to enhanced environmental monitoring and cleaner systems, a number of today's most pressing issues are being addressed through green engineering applications.

An eminent engineer Jaleel Hasan in his paper "Green Engineering — What and Why" said that global warming is the threat of today and it must be tackled before it's too late.

Hasan blamed uncontrolled development and industrialization for disturbing the ecosystem and shed light on the scope and necessity of green engineering to prevent it. He said it is the design, commercialization and use of processes and products that are feasible and economical while it reduces the generation of pollution at the source and minimizes the risk to human health and environment.

Kazi Zuldader Siddiqui, a renowned expert on wind energy, in his paper "Wind Energy — A Way out for Pakistan's Energy Solution" talked about the development in the West especially in the field of green engineering and wind-power based industries.

Referring to Pakistan, which suffers from acute power shortage, Kazi said: "The solution for this crisis lies in utilizing our enormous wind potential to generate power at a very economical rate."

He mentioned that every 3rd power plant being built up across the world is based on wind power.

Kazi appealed to the government as well as private sector in Pakistan to invest more in wind-based power generation plants, which are eco-friendly as well as economical with a vast potential to cater to "our needs."

Kazi said: "Let the wind and sun pay for our electric bills."

Ramesh Tharwani, a construction engineer, presented his paper on "Green Building" and made recommendations how economically and with minimum pollution we can do the construction of buildings.

The session opened with the recitation from the Holy Qur'an by Mohammad Asif. Aleem Khan, president of the Engineers Welfare Forum Jeddah (EWFJ), presented a report on its activities over the past 18 months.

Masroor Elahi, secretary-general of the forum, conducted the program. The session was presided by Pakistan's Acting Ambassador Mohammad Sarfraz Ahmed Khanzada while the chief guest was Aftab Islam Agha, president of the Institution of Pakistani Engineers (IEP).

Agha said that Pakistan's energy crisis could be solved if the concept of green engineering is implemented.

Prominent among those who attended the seminar included: Zaighamuddin Azam, consul general of Pakistan; Zafar Iqbal, minister for coordination at Pakistani Consulate; Mohammad Jameel, press consul; Jahangir Virq, deputy consul welfare; Mohammad Umer Chappra, adviser to the IDB; Syed Hassan Jalil, president of the IEP Riyadh; Syed Rizwan Ahmed, president of the IEP in Dammam; Mohammad Ashfaque, principal of the Pakistan International School in Jeddah and Niqab Khan.

Plaque of appreciation was given to Ambassador Sarfraz Khanzada, Consul General Zaighamuddin Azam, Umer Chappra, Aftab Islam Agha, Zulqader Siddiqui, Syed Hassan Jaleel, Ramesh Tharwani and Waliullah Husseini. Plaques to Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, president, World Muslim Congress, and Sen. Rukhsana Zubairi, chairperson, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) was given in absentia. Life Membership of IEP awards were given to Syed Ehsanul Haque, Jawaid Iqbal, Mohammad Asef Butt, Mohammad Imarn, Abdul Samad Khan and Asif Bashir Butt.

Syed Faisal Ali