The book presents a detailed analysis of the nature and the implications of the ongoing energy crisis in Pakistan. In this regard the role of pertinent stakeholders has been critically reflected upon. Highlighting the key strengths of the national energy base, solutions have been suggested to achieve a sustainable energy future for the country.

The international multi-topic conference IMTIC 2008 was held in Pakistan during April 11–12, 2008. It was a joint venture between Mehran University, Jamshoro, Sindh and Aalborg University, Esbjerg, Denmark. Apart from the two-day main event, two workshops were also held: the Workshop on Creating Social Semantic Web 2.0 Information Spaces and the Workshop on Wireless Sensor Networks. Two hundred participants registered for the main conference from 24 countries and 43 papers were presented; the two workshops had overwhelming support and over 400 delegates registered. IMTIC 2008 served as a platform for international scientists and the engineering community in general, and in particular for local scientists and the engineering c- munity to share and cooperate in various fields of interest. The topics presented had a reasonable balance between theory and practice in multidisciplinary topics. The c- ference also had excellent topics covered by the keynote speeches keeping in view the local requirements, which served as a stimulus for students as well as experienced participants. The Program Committee and various other committees were experts in their areas and each paper went through a double-blind peer review process. The c- ference received 135 submissions of which only 46 papers were selected for presen- tion: an acceptance rate of 34%.

Seen through the lens of the outsider, Pakistan has often been reduced to a caricature. Its diversity and resilience have rarely figured in the single-issue focus of recent literature on the country, be it journalistic or scholarly. This book seeks to present an alternate paradigm and to contribute a deeper understanding of the country's dynamics that may help explain why Pakistan has confounded all the doomsday scenarios. It brings together an extra-ordinary array of leading experts, including Ahmed Rashid, Ayesha Jalal and Zahid Hussain, and practitioners, such as the book's editor, Maleeha Lodhi, Akbar Ahmed and Munir Akram. Together they debate their country's strengths and weaknesses and offer ways out of its current predicament. This book provides a picture of how Pakistanis see themselves and their country's faultlines and spells out ways to overcome these. Pakistan's political, economic, social, foreign policy and governance challenges are assessed in detail. So too is the complex interplay between domestic developments and external factors including great power interests that are so central to the Pakistan story and explain the vicissitudes in its fortunes. Lodhi and her contributors contend that Pakistan and its people have the capacity to transform their country into a stable, modern Muslim state, but bold reforms will be needed to bring about this outcome.

Shows that economic concerns about jobs, costs, and consumption, rather than climate change, are likely to drive energy transition in developing countries.

The purpose of Tajikistan’s Winter Energy Crisis is to assist the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) in exploring ways to overcome electricity shortages due to rising demand for electricity. It focuses on investments and policy reforms in order to strengthen the financial, technical, and institutional capacities in the power sector and to prepare the Government for undertaking a major expansion of power supply capacity until the year 2020. The Study explores a range of supply and demand alternatives (e.g., thermal, run-of-river hydro, other renewables, energy efficiency and demand management) excluding the option of large hydropower plants especially those requiring storage capacities, given the complexity and delays in their establishment. The option of a large hydropower project in Tajikistan, such as Rogun, is being explored by the various studies conducted by the Government and has involved a long process of information sharing on the findings of the studies for consensus building among stakeholders including Tajikistan, riparian Governments and their various Civil Society Organizations. Such a process requires the assurance of international quality standards, and incorporation of the concerns of all stakeholders. Without prompt actions, as recommended by the Study to address the causes of Tajikistan’s electricity crisis in the next 4-5 years, the shortages could increase to about 4,500 GWh by 2016 - translating to over a third of winter electricity demand. Following the recommendations of the current Study, the GoT will be on the road to establishing a long term energy security in Tajikistan.

One of the gravest issues facing the global community today is the threat of nuclear war. As a growing number of nations gain nuclear capabilities, the odds of nuclear conflict increase. Yet nuclear deterrence strategies remain rooted in Cold War models that do not take into account regional conflict. Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments offers an innovative theory of brokered bargaining to better understand and solve regional crises. As the world has moved away from the binational relationships that defined Cold War conflict while nuclear weapons have continued to proliferate, new types of nuclear threats have arisen. Moeed Yusuf proposes a unique approach to deterrence that takes these changing factors into account. Drawing on the history of conflict between India and Pakistan, Yusuf describes the potential for third-party intervention to avert nuclear war. This book lays out the ways regional powers behave and maneuver in response to the pressures of strong global powers. Moving beyond debates surrounding the widely accepted rational deterrence model, Yusuf offers an original perspective rooted in thoughtful analysis of recent regional nuclear conflicts. With depth and insight, Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments urges the international community to rethink its approach to nuclear deterrence.

Compelling perspectives, deep insightsPutting Pakistan Right is set out simply and concisely * What ails Pakistan* What is taking it so long to fix its ailments* What matters and what doesn't* Is the future better than the past?This is not an academic piece, neither a journalistic perspective on events. Instead the book contains perspectives gained from living and working in Pakistan and from talking to a cross section of Pakistani society. These perspectives open windows on some key themes which are addressed in this book: Pakistan's struggle against religious extremism, energy shortages, its position as a transit corridor and issues it faces in urban and economic development. These themes are often intertwined. Each of these themes is further fleshed out and illustrated by short pieces that offer vistas into the fundamental issues that need to be overcome. Pakistan is a troubled country. On that there would be widespread consensus.This easy to read and simple to understand template hopes to leave the reader with a deeper appreciation on the issues facing contemporary Pakistan and what needs to be done to put them right.