Tapping of renewable energy resources of wind, solar and bio-fuels is necessary to resolve the prevailing energy crisis and reduce the growing trade deficit. Environment Protection Department Additional Secretary Dr Zafar Abdullah stated this while speaking at a seminar on 'Clean Energy for Safe Environment and Sustainable Development' here at a local hotel on Wednesday. EPD Director General Dr Shagufta Shahjehan chaired the seminar. Dr Zafar said that renewable energy resources were cost efficient and environment friendly. He said that only technology was needed to tap these resources available in abundance. Former NESPAK General Manager Sabir Ali Bhatti said that power shortage was resulting in economic loss of 3 billion dollars per annum. The country was facing power shortage of over 4,000 MWs whereas it could generate 10,000 MW from coal alone. China was generating 80 per cent of power required by it from coal but Pakistan was yet to acquire the technology. He said that Pakistan was not utilising its hydel power potential also. Water flowing from Tarbela Dam can be easily stored by building a dam at Kalabagh. Wapda was forced to purchase thermal power from private companies at much higher rates on the pressure of international financial institutions. He said that Indus River System alone had hydle power potential of 35,000 MWs but the country was facing a shortage of 4,000 MW. Wapda was losing Rs 52 billion per annum by purchasing fuel at the rate of Rs 35,000 per ton and supplying it to the IPPs at the rate of Rs 5,000 per ton under a forced agreement. He said that the World Bank had opposed execution of hydel power projects by Wapda because these would have affected import of power generation equipment from the developed countries. Pakistan had the third largest coal reserves in the world and could use the same for generating power like Iran, India and China by acquiring the technology. Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies Deputy Director Irfan Yousaf said that a 700 MW wind power generation project had been launched at Gharo in coastal area of Sindh. Solar energy projects were being launched in Northern Punjab and Sindh. India was generating 9,000 MNWs from wind whereas Pakistan had a potential to generate 50,000 MW from its 1046 kilometre coastline. NCA Professor Dr Sohail Qureshi said that historical buildings were energy efficient and environment friendly because of utilisation of indigenous materials and technology. The old building tradition had, however, made synonymous with backwardness and replaced by the new one causing maximum energy wastage. Sustainable architecture was required to be energy efficient.