An idea sparked during a U.S. exchange visit to North Dakota has grown into a PUAN Grant creating a platform for expert conversations on Pakistan’s energy sector, investment opportunities, and U.S.–Pakistan economic engagement.
Barrister Sarah Kazmi, our International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) 2025 alumna, is leading the PUAN Grant “Energy Sphere Podcast: A Platform for Dialogue on the Energy Sector and U.S.–Pakistan Economic Engagement.” The podcast brings together energy professionals, policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to examine developments shaping Pakistan’s energy landscape and its economic potential.
The idea for The Energy Sphere emerged during Sarah’s participation in the U.S. Department of State’s 2025 IVLP on “Integrated Energy Planning for the Power and Petroleum Sectors in Pakistan.” During the program, conversations among Sarah, Asjadullah Qureshi, and Iraj Tariq in North Dakota helped spark the idea for a dedicated platform where energy-sector issues could be explored through informed professional dialogue. That idea is now being put into action through a PUAN Grant.
Turning an Exchange Experience into Action
Sarah is an energy lawyer and trainer with professional experience spanning energy policy, regulation, contracts, and capacity building. Called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in 2008, she is an Advocate of the High Court of Pakistan and currently serves as a Partner at Energy Resource Management (ERM), a consultancy providing policy advisory, legal services, and capacity-building support in the energy sector. She previously served as Director Legal/Contracts at Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).
Her IVLP provided an opportunity to engage with U.S. approaches to integrated energy planning and exchange perspectives with professionals working across Pakistan’s power and petroleum sectors. Building on that experience, The Energy Sphere PUAN Grant is carrying those conversations forward through a dedicated podcast focused on energy, economic development, innovation, and U.S.–Pakistan economic engagement.
In Episode 1, “From North Dakota to Energy Sphere,” Sarah, Asjadullah Qureshi, and Iraj Tariq share how conversations during their 2025 U.S. exchange experience evolved into the idea behind the podcast.
Creating a Platform for Energy and Economic Dialogue
Implemented under the PUAN Grant theme “Economic Reform, Trade & Investment Readiness,” The Energy Sphere will produce five professionally recorded audio episodes featuring conversations with energy professionals, regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders.
The series will examine areas including power, oil and gas, mining and minerals, U.S. energy innovation, and the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy. Discussions will also explore regulatory developments, investment opportunities, economic cooperation, and practices relevant to U.S.–Pakistan engagement in the energy sector.
The podcast is designed for energy professionals, policymakers, investors, researchers, and business leaders in Pakistan and the United States seeking greater insight into Pakistan’s evolving energy landscape and opportunities for economic cooperation and investment.
The project also connects energy-sector dialogue with broader economic priorities. Energy policy and regulation can influence investment decisions, industrial activity, technological adoption, and business competitiveness. By creating an accessible forum for sector experts, The Energy Sphere seeks to improve awareness of regulatory developments, investment opportunities, and relevant practices across the sector.
