On Thursday, 9 January 2025, Ambassador Dato' Azhar Malzan attended the 4th International Hydropower Conference 2025 under the theme “The Future of Hydropower” as the Guest of Honour at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. The conference was supported by the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and the International Hydropower Association (IHA).
The conference brought together over 300 industry stakeholders, including leaders from Pakistan’s hydropower sector, the distinguished Malaysian company TNB Remaco Malaysia operating in Pakistan, and other international companies, civil and engineering contractors, as well as experts in hydropower and renewable energy.
Speaking at the conference, Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized the urgent need for Pakistan to harness its hydropower potential and shift toward renewable energy to ensure a sustainable and resilient energy future. In light of Pakistan’s critical energy challenges—aggravated by escalating climate disruptions and population growth—Senator Rehman underscored the role of hydropower as a cornerstone of the country’s energy transition.
Malaysian High Commissioner Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan commended the conference organizers and highlighted that energy is the backbone of a country’s economy. He remarked that, like Pakistan, Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources and generates electricity through hydropower, gas, and other sources. Mazlan stressed the need to develop indigenous technology for hydropower generation and praised Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” program under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
CEO of TNB REMACO, Hafiz Isahak, shared his organization’s expertise in providing maintenance, repair, diagnostic, and project management services for the power sector in Malaysia and other countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He also highlighted TNB REMACO’s successful partnerships in Pakistan, citing projects like the Balloki Combined Cycle Power Plant (1,223 MW) and the New Bong Escape Hydropower Plant (84 MW). His remarks emphasized the shared commitment of Pakistan and Malaysia toward building a sustainable energy future, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in addressing global energy challenges.
