Energy Conservation Sessions in Multan, April 10, 2012
Multan, April 14, 2012: The USAID Power Distribution Program in collaboration with the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) organized interactive sessions on gender and effective energy saving habits at home and the workplace.
The sessions were aimed at developing consumer awareness by involving the Power Distribution Company’s (DISCO’s) female employees in informing and educating the female population of Pakistan on how to diligently adopt effective energy saving habits to reduce the country’s electricity burden. Sessions were held at the Government College for Women (Chungi No 14), Government College of Technology for Women (Bahawalpur Road), Government Postgraduate College for Women (Katcheri Road) and Government College for Women (Mumtazabad). The awareness sessions provided both students and teachers with energy saving tips normally unknown to the general public or are not in daily practice.
Enthusiastic MEPCO employees Sadia Javed, , Zill-e-Huma and Hafsa Tariq, educated students about the functioning of the power sector in Pakistan, the country’s power distribution companies, the role and responsibilities of MEPCO and effective energy saving habits for the home and workplace. Qurat ul ain Ibrahim, Gender Strategy Team Lead of USAID’s Power Distribution Program, informed students about the project and other USAID initiatives in Pakistan while encouraging female students to work in Pakistan’s energy sector. The students, who were mostly in their final collegiate year, were informed of job and internship opportunities for women in DISCOs.
The 2010 “Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace” Act was explained during the session; its role as a key safeguarding law for females was also highlighted. College Principals and faculty members also gave personal insights on how to conserve energy. After successful sessions in Islamabad, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and now Multan, USAID’s Power Distribution Program has scheduled additional informative sessions at various local female colleges, in the principal cities of all nine DISCOs.