solutions of energy crisis in pakistan

Energy Crisis in Pakistan: Causes, Impact and Solutions

Energy crisis in pakistan.

The energy crisis in Pakistan has been on the rise for over a decade. Chronic power outages have significantly impacted individuals, businesses, and the overall economy. In this post, we’ll analyze the key factors contributing to Pakistan’s energy crisis, as well as explore practical solutions and steps being taken to overcome this challenge.

Causes of the Energy Crisis

Pakistan’s growing energy needs have outpaced domestic power generation capabilities for many years. Several issues have collectively led to the current crisis:

Inadequate Power Infrastructure – Pakistan’s existing power infrastructure has failed to keep up with rising demand. Production capacity has not increased substantially while the population and energy usage continue rising each year.

Reliance on Imported Fuel – Approximately 30% of Pakistan’s energy needs are met through imported fuel such as oil and liquefied natural gas. This makes the country vulnerable to global fuel price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

Insufficient Domestic Fuel Reserves – Pakistan has limited domestic reserves of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The majority must still be imported, putting burden on foreign exchange reserves.

Poor Recovery of Bills – Widespread theft and non-payment of utility bills has resulted in significant financial losses for energy producers. This discourages investment in capacity expansion.

Inefficiency in Supply and Transmission – Outdated transmission infrastructure and inefficient distribution network results in line losses as high as 20%. This wasted power further exacerbates shortages.

Population Growth – Pakistan has seen exponential population growth but domestic power production has failed to keep pace. Per capita electricity availability has steadily declined over the years.

Impact of Energy Crisis in Pakistan on the Economy and Daily Life

The chronic energy shortfalls have taken a heavy toll on all aspects of life in Pakistan:

Economic Slowdown – Frequent blackouts disrupt industrial operations, resulting in losses of billions annually. Many businesses have closed down or moved elsewhere.
Job Losses – Energy intensive industries like textiles have suffered major job cuts or shutdown factories completely due to an unreliable power supply.
Inflation – The costs of running generators have been passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services. This fuels inflation across all sectors.
Decline in Exports – Export oriented industries have lost international orders and export volumes have declined significantly as global clients seek more stable suppliers.
Hardship for Citizens – Long daily loadshedding during summers makes life exhausting. Hospitals and other essential services are also affected.

Clearly, resolving the energy crisis is crucial for reviving Pakistan’s ailing economy and improving quality of life for its citizens. Overcoming this challenge will require sustained efforts on multiple fronts.

Steps Being Taken

The government has acknowledged the severity of the issue and various plans are now underway to overcome the energy crisis in Pakistan:

Expansion of Thermal Power – New coal, natural gas and liquefied natural gas based power plants are increasing domestic generation capacity. Examples include the 1320MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant.
Hydel Power Development – Projects like the 4500MW Diamer-Bhasha Dam aim to boost clean hydropower production. Other small hydropower plants are also in the works.
Renewable Energy Drive – The government has set targets to rapidly scale up solar, wind, and biomass energy sources through a renewable energy drive. Examples include solar parks and off-grid solutions for remote areas.
Improving Infrastructure – Upgrades of transmission lines and replacement of outdated equipment is ongoing. This will reduce line losses during supply.
Demand Side Management – Efforts encourage energy conservation and efficiency. Examples include replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs and enforcing building energy codes.
Alternate Energy Sources – Exploration of untapped indigenous coal reserves and shale gas is also proceeding to diversify the fuel mix.

If successfully implemented, these multi-pronged solutions could help resolve the energy shortages over the coming years. However, sustained political will and funding remains essential.

Role of Individuals and Businesses

While large-scale infrastructure projects take time, individuals and businesses can also play their part by adopting energy efficient practices:

Switch to energy efficient appliances and lighting
Practice switch off routines and minimize unnecessary usage
Explore solar rooftop and other off-grid alternatives
Improve building insulation and use natural light/ventilation
Transition company fleets to electric/hybrid vehicles
Invest in on-site power solutions like generators or backup systems

Adopting even small everyday measures can collectively lower demand pressures on the national grid. Along with government efforts, this type of behavioral change is key to addressing the crisis sustainably over the long run.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s protracted energy shortages stem from decades of under-investment, with demand outstripping domestic supply capabilities. Urgently, we need multi-dimensional solutions to stabilize the energy sector. While the government works to boost generation through diversified sources, it’s imperative that individuals and businesses also play their part by becoming more energy efficient. If addressed comprehensively through short and long-term plans, Pakistan has the potential to overcome this challenge and put the country back on a path of sustainable and inclusive growth .

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Like many other developing countries, Pakistan has been grappling with a severe energy crisis for several years. The demand for energy continues to surge due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, while the supply of conventional energy sources remains inadequate. This energy deficit has led to frequent power outages, hampering economic growth, disrupting daily life, and impeding technological progress. In this context, the adoption of alternative energy sources presents a compelling solution to address Pakistan’s energy crisis. [1] Pakistan’s energy crisis is a long-standing and multifaceted issue that has significantly impeded the country’s economic growth and development. Pakistan witnessed acute energy crisis during the summer months from May-August 2023. The electricity shortfall widened to 7,000 megawatts with demand rising to 28,200 megawatts, while the power supply was 21,200 megawatts. [2]

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Open access
Published: 22 June 2016

Renewable energy deployment to combat energy crisis in Pakistan

Abdul Raheem 1 , 2 ,
Sikandar Ali Abbasi 2 ,
Asif Memon 3 ,
Saleem R. Samo 3 ,
Y. H. Taufiq-Yap 4 ,
Michael K. Danquah 5 &
Razif Harun 1

Energy, Sustainability and Society volume 6 , Article number: 16 ( 2016 ) Cite this article

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The huge deficiency of electricity due to heavy reliance on imported fuels has become a significant impediment to socio-economic development in Pakistan. This scenario creates an increase in local fuel prices and limits potentials in the establishment of new industrial zones. The current gap between the demand and production of electricity in Pakistan is approximately 5000–8000 MW with a constant increase of 6–8 % per annum. Hence, more sustainable and renewable energy sources are required to overcome the existing problem. Pakistan is endowed with potential renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. These resources have the capacity to be major contributors to future energy production matrix, climate change reduction efforts, and the sustainable energy development of the country. This article reviews the availability of alternative energy resources in Pakistan and associated potentials for full-scale development of sustainable energy systems. It also discusses exploitation strategies to increase the distribution of indigenous energy resources.

Pakistan is one of the most populated countries in the southern Asia region, contributing approximately 2.56 % of the total global population. The country is expected to serve as an international trade and energy corridor in the near future due to its strategic location [ 1 , 2 ]. Hence, among other social, economic, and political factors, Pakistan needs to ensure its energy supplies meet the direct and indirect demands of the country not only for maintaining economic growth but also for supporting regional and global economic initiatives. The vast deficit between demand and supply of electricity recorded in 2009–2010 was 26.82 %. This figure has increased up to 50 % during the summer of 2012 [ 1 ]. A routine problem is that electricity supply cannot be maintained during peak hours, resulting in frequent power shutdown (load shedding) of 13–14 h in urban areas, and 16–19 h in rural areas. As a result, many entrepreneurs and industrialists have invested and moved their businesses to neighboring countries [ 3 ]. Hence, short- and long-term measures are required to solve the existing energy problems. The present state of Pakistan’s energy resources is summarized (Fig. 1 ). It can be seen that indigenous energy sources mainly consist of oil (38 %), hydro (32 %), natural gas (27 %), and coal (3 %) [ 1 ].

Distribution of indigenous energy sources available in Pakistan [ 1 ]

Sustainable supply of energy to meet the current and future domestic and industrial demands in Pakistan will rely on full-scale generation from the different energy sources in order to make significant contributions to the supply chain. Current energy generation has a huge financial burden on the country’s economy due to the importation of oil to support existing mix, and the situation is heightened by the rapid declination of domestic gas assets. According to the Board of Investment Pakistan, the installed power capacity is 22,797 MW. However, current generation stands between 12,000 and 13,000 MW per day, against peak a demand of 17,000 to 21,000 MW [ 4 ]. Figure 2 shows the average annual demand of electricity, which is increasing at a constant rate of 8–10 % annually.

Electricity demand and supply trends for Pakistan from 2010 to 2030 [ 5 , 7 ]

The acute shortfall and burden imposed by oil importation creates a huge economic constraint for the country [ 5 , 6 ]. Various efforts have been made by different governmental organizations and international bodies such as Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank to stabilize the energy situation. They share similar objectives to enhance fossil fuel production for electricity generation. Unfortunately, governmental efforts to address concerns relating to energy security, climate change, and sustainable development have been minimal. Whilst little effort is put into increasing domestic fossil fuel (gas, coal, and oil) based electricity, the search for alternative fuel sources which are more sustainable and renewable should be a major national priority. Renewable energy in Pakistan was reported to be <1 % in 2010. However, Pakistani government has targeted to achieve 5 % of renewable energy by 2030 [ 7 , 8 ]. The article reports on the potential and exploration of renewable energy as a major contributor to future sustainable energy pursuits in Pakistan.

Renewable energy potential in Pakistan

Pakistan has four main renewable energy sources. These are wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. These resources have a significant potential to provide solutions to the long-lasting energy crisis in Pakistan [ 8 ]. Hence, a steady development of these resources is a crucial step to overcome the existing energy challenges in an environmental friendly manner. Among the different renewable energy sources, solar energy has received the most research attention [ 9 – 16 ]. Sheikh [ 13 ], for instance, evaluated the potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation capacity with 14 % efficient PV panels over area of 100 km 2 , which is 0.01 % of total land area of the country. From the results, it was concluded that covering 100 km 2 area of land with PV panels can produce energy equivalent to 30 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE) in Pakistan. Gondal and Sahir [ 15 ], considered 0.45 % of urban regions for PV installations to estimate the total energy generation capacity based on solar PV system. A survey conducted by Hasnain and Gibbs [ 16 ] showed that the interior part of the county consists of mainly agricultural land, which is appropriate for the development of biomass feedstock, whereas northern and southern corridors have a significant potential for hydro, wind, and solar. This finding is useful as it might possibly improve the diverse energy supply market and decrease the dependency on imported fuels and environmental pollution. Figure 3 shows the entire spectrum and end-uses of alternative sources which are the best options to meet basic requirements of energy needs, with various employment openings, local manufacturing.

End-uses of renewable energy resources

It has been projected that Pakistan will contribute up to 10,000 MW to its energy mix through renewable energy resources by 2030 [ 17 ]. Therefore, timely and appropriate progress to exploit the potential of different natural energy resources will have a tremendously influence in meeting future projections.

Wind energy

The development and use of alternative energy resources have been a major endeavor since 2003. The Pakistani government has set up a recognized body [ 17 ], to coordinate efforts in this area. This organization plays an important role in narrowing the gap between demand and supply of electricity by promoting the utilization of renewable energy. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) has collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL), USA, to conduct a wind speed survey of 46 different locations in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces with height ranging from 10–30 m. The data from the feasibility studies were analyzed by Alternative Energy Development Board Pakistan (AEDB) [ 12 , 13 ], and it was found that a vast area of 9750 km 2 with a high wind speed was discovered and zoned as “Gharo-Corridor” as shown in Fig. 4 . The area has a significant potential to produce around 50,000 MW of electricity. However, due to the occurrence of other economic activities, only 25 % of the area can be utilized with a production potential of 11,000 MW [ 12 , 18 ].

Wind mapping stations in Sindh with a potential to produce 11,000 MW at a height of 50 m [ 12 ]

Moreover, significant wind speeds were identified in the costal part of Baluchistan, particularly in Swat and some of the Northern areas. Out of 42 examined sites, seven have a capacity factor ranging from 10 to 18 % and are appropriate for Bonus wind turbines (Model 600/44 MK IV) [ 19 ]. However, the potential of these sites is still being explored although the capacity is not enough to contribute to the national grid. NREL, together with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has identified a total gross wind resource of 346,000 MW in Pakistan, where approximately 120,000 MW can be technically exploited to power the national gird [ 20 ]. Recently, a wind project with 500 MW capacities has been completed in 2013 [ 17 ]. In addition, more than 18 wind turbine companies are approaching AEDB to install 3000 MW wind project [ 21 ]. At the moment, the first phase of the Zorlu wind project generating 6 MW is in operation whilst a 56 MW plant is yet to be installed. Different wind power projects with a cumulative capacity of approximately 964 MW are at different phases of construction and would be completed in the near future. The Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) has installed nearly 150 small wind turbines ranging between 0.49 and 9 kW with a cumulative power output of 160 kW at the different areas of Sindh and Baluchistan, powering 1569 homes including 9 security check posts [ 22 ]. Also, thousands of small wind turbines with a capacity of 300–1000 W have been installed by different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), electrifying rural areas of Sindh province. Most recently, three villages of Baluchistan have been powered using a wind/PV hybrid system [ 1 ]. With further investment and development, wind energy could become a major component of sustainable energy future in Pakistan.

Solar energy

Solar is believed to be one of the most endowed renewable energy sources. It is reliable and capable of producing substantial amount of energy without posing adverse impacts on the environment. Generally, PV cell and solar thermal conversion systems are used to capture sun energy for various applications in rural and urban areas. PV technology is capable of converting direct sun radiation into electricity (Fig. 5 ). Solar thermal technology uses thermal solar collectors to capture energy from the sun to heat up water to steam for electricity generation [ 23 , 24 ].

A schematic drawing of the mechanism of operation of solar photovoltaic systems

Pakistan with a land area of 796,096 km 2 is located between longitudes 62° and 75° east and latitudes 24° and 37° north [ 25 ]. This unique geographical position and climate conditions is advantageous for the exploitation of solar energy. Almost every part of the country receives 8–10 h day −1 high solar radiations with more than 300 sunshine days in a year [ 14 , 26 ]. Figure 6 illustrates the range of solar radiation levels per month in the major cities of Pakistan.

Minimum and maximum range of solar radiations in Pakistan [ 27 ]

The prospects of solar energy in Pakistan have also been widely investigated by many researchers [ 27 – 33 ]. Adnan et al. [ 30 ] analyzed the magnitude of solar radiation data for 58 different PMD stations, and the data showed that over 95 % of the total area of Pakistan receives solar radiations of 5–7 kWh m −2 day −1 . Ahmed et al. [ 31 ] and Ahmed et al. [ 32 ] used different methods to estimate and characterize direct or diffused solar radiations in many parts of the country. Khalil and Zaidi [ 33 ] conducted the survey of wind speed and intensity of solar radiations at different locations of country. Furthermore, the data was then compared among wind turbine (1 kVA), solar PV (1 kVA), and gasoline generator (1 kVA) (Table 1 ). The comparison showed that the wind and solar energy are most appropriate alternative resources. The study also found that the 1 kW of solar PV can produce 0.23 kW of electricity, which can significantly contribute to reduce load shedding in Pakistan. Hasanain and Gibbs [ 16 ] detailed out the significance of solar energy in rural areas of the country.

AEDB has estimated that Pakistan has about 2,900,000 MW (2900 GW) of solar power potential [ 18 ]. The main obstacles to full-scale exploitation include (1) high cost, (2) lack of technology, (3) socio-political behaviors, and (4) governmental policy conflicts.

In 2003, the chief minister of Punjab launched the “UJAALA” program, where 30 W PV panels were distributed among university students throughout the country. This program aimed at encouraging people to utilize alternative energy and cut-down their dependency on the national gird. Another project introduced by the government was the “Quaid-e-Azam solar park.” This solar park is built to produce 2000 MW of electricity by 2015 [ 23 ]. It is projected that the largest solar photovoltaic electricity production will be established after 2020 [ 1 ]. PCRET has set up approximately 300 solar PV units of 100 kW capacities to power 500 homes, colleges and mosques, including street lighting [ 34 ]. AEDB has powered 3000 families by installing 200 kW PV system together with 80 W solar charged lighting systems [ 28 ]. Many NGOs are effectively working to install PV units in several parts of the country. The solar street lamps and solar charging lights for households are particularly of major interest. Pakistan has a target of electrifying approximately 40,000 villages via solar PV by 2015 [ 28 ].

Solar water heating

The solar water heating technology has been extensively applied in Pakistan with an annual growth rate of 245 % during the last four years [ 35 , 36 ]. AEDB has started a Consumer Confidence Building Program (CCBP) to promote solar water heating system in Pakistan. The main objective of this program is to create awareness and build-up consumer confidence thorough various incentives. At present, there are 55 companies importing solar geysers, including 25 local manufactures [ 37 ]. The main factors contributing to growth pattern are heftiness, affordability, technological reliability and increasing scarcity of natural gas. It is estimated that approximately 9500 of solar water heating units will be operated in the country by 2015, and projected to be 24,000 units by 2020 without any governmental subsidies [ 38 ]. According to Han et al. [ 39 ], utilizing solar water heating technology instead of natural gas or conventional sources has significant advantages on economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

Solar water desalination

Solar desalination is a new and cost-effective technology to remove salt and other minerals from water for daily life applications. The technology desalinates brackish water or seawater either using solar distillation or an indirect method whilst converting the solar energy into heat or electricity [ 39 – 41 ]. It is an environmentally advantageous and cost-effective technology; hence, it is much patronized by communities in rural regions [ 41 ]. Arjunan et al. [ 42 ] described the design layout and functioning principles of an installed solar water desalination unit in Awania, India. They reported that the distillation of brackish water using solar energy is an effective way to provide potable water for rural communities in arid and semi-arid zones. This makes it a potential technology to be employed in different areas of Pakistan where fresh water availability is limited such as Thar deserts and Cholistan regions. Most of the regions in the country have brackish subsoil water which is not appropriate for human and other living inhabitants [ 33 ]; hence, desalination by means of solar energy will be beneficial and sustainable in providing portable water for the rural areas of Sindh, Baluchistan, and Punjab [ 41 ] The government of Balochistan has installed two solar plants in Gawadar, comprising 240 stills and each plant has the capacity to treat up to 6000 g day −1 of sea water. Projects to develop the same solar plant system have been initiated in different areas of Balochistan and other province of Pakistan [ 41 ]. The Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) has fabricated a single basin solar still with an optimized efficiency of 30.62 %, being comparable to stills used globally.

Industrial solar water heating

Apart from domestic use, solar water heating system is also used in various commercial and industrial applications including laundries, hotels, food preparation and storage, and general processing and manufacturing. In the textile industry for example, water heating for dyeing, finishing, drying, and curing consumes approximately 65 % of the total energy [ 14 ]. Processing and manufacturing industries also require water heating for various operations such as sterilization, distillation, evaporation, and polymerization. Solar thermal technology is one of the most effective solutions to achieve the desired temperature and productivity for the aforementioned applications [ 42 ]. Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world; hence, this technology will contribute significantly to meet the water heating requirements of the cotton industry sustainably. As a major contributor to the economy of Pakistan, the textile industry is facing serious challenges in maintaining the global environmental standards. The industry is energy intensive; thus, high energy costs and persistent shortages in demand and supply impact negatively on the production and competitiveness of the industry. Full-scale operation of industrial solar water heating systems would contribute significantly to resolved energy problems faced by the industry. Energy is a crucial commodity on the international market, and its production and competitiveness are the functioning indicators [ 43 , 44 ]. Water heating is an energy-intensive process and conventionally relies on the use of fossil fuels energy. Solar water heating technology can benefit textile industries in Pakistan by providing an economical choice and a potential alternative to conventional fossil-based routes. Mass implementation of solar water heating systems will also reduce the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels significantly. Muneer et al. [ 45 ] reported a payback period of 6 years for solar water heating systems incorporated into Pakistan textiles industries. Muneer et al. [ 46 ] also examined the prospect of solar water heating system on Turkish textile industry and estimated a payback period of ~5 years.

In view of the existing enormous potential, solar energy offers a promising and useful option for Pakistan in various commercial applications. The government needs to consider this technology as an important source of energy and promote massive and rapid investments to meet the supply of power in rural regions such as Balochistan, Thar Desert, and Cholistan, where grid connectivity is not accessible.

Biomass is typically derived from plants, animals, and agricultural wastes. It has been in used for various applications such as cooking, heat, fuel, and electricity in rural areas. Broadly, biomass is classified into four major groups: (i) agricultural waste, (ii) municipal solid waste, (iii) animal residue, and (iv) forest residue [ 47 ]. However, plants and animals are the main sources of biomass production. Almost 220 billion tons of biomass is produced globally each year from these sources, which is capable of producing substantial amount of energy without releasing high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and other greenhouse gasses compared to fossil fuels [ 48 , 49 ]. Technically, they can be converted into different products either using thermochemical or biochemical methods. However, each of the conversion methods has its own pros and cons and process conditions such as characteristics of biomass feedstock and the desired end product [ 50 ]. Biomass could be appropriate and effective for commercial exploitation to generate electricity throughout world, due to its characteristics for high value fuel products [ 50 ].

Pakistan is an agricultural country where most of its population (around 70 %) lives in remote areas [ 2 , 51 ]. Hence, the availability of biomass is very extensive particularly from agriculture and livestock sources, including crop residues and waste from animals. These wastes amount to 50,000 tons day −1 of solid waste, 225,000 tons day −1 of agricultural residue, and approximately 1 million tons day −1 of manure [ 26 , 52 , 53 ]. Due to limited access to grid electricity and advanced technologies in these remote areas, most people are powered using traditional practices to fulfill their energy needs [ 1 , 2 ]. The sugar cane production industries produces bagasse as residue and this can be used to produce electricity to power sugar mills. Pakistan is the fifth largest country worldwide with sugarcane producing capacity of over 87,240,100 million tons. AEDB and NREL, USA, have estimated 1800 MW of power generation from sugarcane bagasse [ 17 , 54 , 55 ]. In the view of present energy scenario, the government has authorized sugar mill owners to sell their surplus power to the national grid station under the limits of 700 MW [ 50 ]. Moreover, urban areas produce large quantities of municipal waste which could possibly be digested to produce biogas, a renewable fuel further used to produce green electricity, heat, or as vehicle fuel and the digested substrate, commonly named digestate, and used as fertilizer in agriculture [ 13 , 52 , 56 ]. Figure 7 is added to explain working principles of biogas plant and applications of the produced products from the process.

Working principles of biogas plant and products application [ 56 ]

Biogas technology is highly advanced in China and India. More than 6 million domestic plants and nearly 950 small and medium units were installed in China by 2007, with an estimated production of 2 million m 3 of clean burning fuel to meet 5 % of its total gas energy needs [ 57 ]. A domestic biogas plant was launched in Tibet, China to explore the potential of cattle manure as feedstock, and this has been successfully implemented to improve the social and economic conditions of the region [ 58 ]. Efforts have been made to implement biogas technology in Pakistan. The first biogas plant was constructed in 1959 to process farmyard manure (FYM) in Sindh [ 59 ]. However, only in 1974 did the government of Pakistan start putting efforts into the implementation of residential biogas technology as an alternative source of energy. Plants with fixed dome, portable gas digesters, and small tanks/bags are the three most frequently used designs for biogas operating plants in Pakistan [ 60 ]. Currently, Pakistan has more than 5000 installed biogas plants to meet its domestic fuel needs. These plants are efficiently producing up to 2.5 million m 3 of biogas annually together with 4 million kg year −1 of bio-fertilizer [ 1 , 61 ]. The total estimated nationwide biogas potential is about 13–15 million m 3 day −1 [ 48 , 62 ]. There are opportunities to utilize biomass to produce biogas in the country’s remote regions through community biogas plant networks. Almost 57 million animals exist in Pakistan with an annual growth rate of 10 % [ 60 , 61 ]. The number is capable of producing enough biomass to generate over 12 million m 3 day −1 of biogas, which is sufficient to meet the energy needs of more than 28 million peoples in the rural areas, along with approximately 21 million tons day −1 of bio-fertilizer [ 47 , 63 ]. The collaboration between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and the Directorate General of New and Renewable Resources (DGNRER) enabled the installation of more than 4000 biogas plants by 1974 to 1987. The plants were intended to produce about 3000 to 5000 ft 3 day −1 of biogas for lighting and cooking applications [ 63 ]. The scheme was divided into three stages. In stage 1, around 100 Chinese fixed-doom type plants were installed by DGNRER for demonstration purposes on grant-basis. In stage 2, the budget expenses for sponsorship was shared between the recipients and government, and in stage 3, all the economic sponsorships were withdrawn by the government though free technical supports continued but not reliable. However, the scheme failed due to the following reasons: (i) withdrawal of financial sponsorship by the government, (ii) technology was expensive to invest in and maintain, (iii) less technical awareness/training offered to the locals, (iv) lack of incentives, (v) low patronage or participation by the peoples, and (vi) ineffective demonstration [ 63 ]. Pakistan Council of Appropriate Technology (PCAT) also collaborated with GDNRER to develop a renewable energy technology strategy under the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2001, PCAT merged with the National Institute of Silicon Technology to form Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET). The council develops and disseminates biogas plants and other suitable options of renewable energy generation into communities in the remote areas [ 63 ]. Currently, approximately 1250 biogas plants have been installed with 50 % of the cost shared between the recipient and PCRET [ 64 ]. On top of that, three community based plants were installed in the remote parts of Islamabad, supplying energy to about 20 homes. Sahir and Qureshi [ 2 ] suggested that by installing pilot size plants, the available biomass can be used to operate high level biogas plants based on crops and dungs in the remote regions and street wastes in the urban areas. A biogas plant of 1000 m 3 capacity has recently been set up in the area of Cattle Colony, Karachi [ 64 ], and the trials and preliminary operations of the project were sponsored by New Zealand Aid (NZAID). There are 400,000 cattle in the area, producing wastes as the feedstock for the biogas plant. The initial generation capacity is ∿ 250 kW of power, and this will be increased to 30 MW with 1450 tons day −1 of fertilizer. Another biogas plant at Shakarganj Mill, with the capacity to produce up to 8.25 MW, is still under construction through the help of AEDB [ 65 ]. In addition, PCRET aims to provide alternate renewable energy system in rural households/villages by installing 50,000 medium-scale biogas plants at various locations in the country by 2015, with total annual biogas generation capacity of 110 m 3 [ 1 , 48 ]. Biogas productivity and quality is greatly influenced by the waste type, waste composition, and operational parameters such as temperature, feeding rate, retention time, particle size, water/solid ratio, and C/N ratio [ 66 ]. A temperature range between 30 and 40 °C is found to be optimal for high biogas production rate [ 67 ]. Feedstock available and batch loading are also important parameters for efficient biogas plant operation and help to maximize biogas yield. However, over or under loading of feedstock and water affects the overall efficiency of the process. It has been observed that carbon is consumed 25 times faster than nitrogen during anaerobic fermentation by microorganisms. Therefore, to meet this requirement, microbes require 25–30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio with most of the carbon degraded within the minimum retention time [ 68 , 69 ]. Retention time refers to the digestion period for which the waste remains inside the digester. It is estimated to be average 10 days to few weeks depending on the waste composition, process parameters location of plant and atmospheric conditions [ 70 ]. The digestibility of waste is essential to promote its decomposition into simple organics and biogas products. The digestibility is usually enhanced by treatments using calcium hydroxide, ammonia, and sodium hydroxide. Water and urea can also improve waste digestibility [ 71 ].

Bioethanol and biodiesel

Pakistan has a considerable potential to produce biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. The establishment of these biofuels will help reduce the oil demands of the country of which 82 % is sourced by importation. Various initiatives have been commenced by the government to increase biofuel production. Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) is the agency responsible to develop bioethanol production in the country. Sugar millers offer incentives and materials such as fertilizers and pesticides to sugarcane growers to enhance crop production and maximize bioethanol production [ 14 ]. In 2007, only 6 out of 80 sugar mills in the country had the facilities to convert raw molasses [ 14 ]. With the existing production rate of sugarcane, Pakistan has the potential to produce more than 400,000 tons year −1 of ethanol. However, only about a third (120,000 tons) is produced currently [ 55 ]. Though several small projects have been carried out to evaluate the commercial applications of bioethanol, significant efforts to develop and promote bioethanol are still lacking due to ineffective government policies and lack of infrastructure for large-scale manufacturing. Also, a major portion of the limited bioethanol produced is traded in different forms such as alcohol and molasses.

A significant potential to produce biodiesel also exists in Pakistan through the use of castor bean, a self-grown crop found in different parts of the country. It is estimated to produce more than 1180 kg oil ha −1 , which is significantly higher than other biomass such as corn (140 kg oil ha −1 ), soybean (375 kg oil ha −1 ) and sunflower (800 kg oil ha −1 ) [ 14 ]. Due to its high oil content, castor bean can be a promising alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. Castor oil has the advantage of being soluble in alcohol under ambient temperature conditions, and this is beneficial to biodiesel production. It is an untapped resource in the country; thus, utilization for biodiesel production will not only contribute to meeting the energy demands of the country but also emerge as a value-adding process that can promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the country.

Hydropower in Pakistan

Water is one of the most vital constituents that support all form of life on earth and offers various other services such as power generation [ 72 ]. Hydropower relates to the generation of power from dropping water [ 73 ]. The kinetic energy present in water dropping from elevated levels can be transferred into mechanical power via hydropower turbine and then to electricity using an electric generator (Fig. 8 ). The output of electricity is directly proportional to the elevation of moving water (pressure) and flow rate [ 74 ].

Design and operating mechanism of a hydropower plant [ 74 ]

Based on the flow of water, hydropower power plants are classified into small and large. Large hydro power plants require large dams together with water flow control mechanism [ 75 , 76 ], whereas small hydro power plants (SHPPs) are used to extract energy from low volumes of water flow such as canals, rivers, and streams [ 74 ]. SHPPs are run-of-river systems, and thus do not require any extensive structures such as dam to store water, leading to significantly low environmental impacts [ 77 , 78 ]. Hence, SHPPs are considered ideal renewable energy generation. Hydropower is one of the most established and reliable renewable energy, contributing approximately 20 % to worldwide energy market [ 14 ]. Hydropower plays a leading role in the total energy mix of several countries in the world. Norway accounts for more than 95 % of its power generation from hydropower and Brazil is almost 88 %. Similarly, Canada produces 70 % and Austria produces 65 % of hydropower to meet their energy needs [ 14 ]. India incorporated domestic fluvial systems by integrating its main rivers to improve hydrological control and to increase their hydropower production to 54,000 MW in 2012 [ 78 , 79 ]. Hydropower is also a major energy source in China, and it is projected to contribute 27,000 MW of the total energy by 2020 [ 79 ]. The technology is ongoing in 27 countries in Asia, and countries such as India, Iran, Bhutan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Vietnam, and Pakistan [ 79 , 80 ].

Hydropower is a major source of renewable energy in Pakistan with a great potential for SHPPs especially in locations between the Arabian Sea and mountainous areas such as Hindu Kush, Himalayas, and Karakorum. These features offer enough potential energy to the falling water to develop a maximum pressure [ 81 ]. Moreover, major rivers such as Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum, falling into Indus River can be explored for power generation [ 5 , 82 ]. The power generation capacity of SHPPs for the above sites is 2250 MW [ 78 ]. Pakistan has 18,502,227,829.8 m 3 capacity to store 13 % of its annual river flow whilst the rest of the water directly flows down to the Arabian Sea [ 5 ]. Therefore, additional water storage capacity (such as dams) will be obligatory for future sustainable irrigation and electric power generation. In Pakistan, the total estimated hydropower generation is over 42,000 MW, but unfortunately, only 16 %, amounting to around 6758 MW, has been technically exploited so far. Ninety percent of this comes from hydropower resources in the northern parts of Pakistan [ 1 , 14 ]. Figure 9 shows current operational hydropower projects in Pakistan also shows the respective projects that will be completed by 2015 to bring the installed capacity to over 8000 MW.

The major hydropower (HP) projects in service with installed capacity and under construction with proposed capacity in Pakistan [ 5 , 88 ]

In addition, WAPDA have completed a feasibility study of run-of-river hydro projects with combined installed capacity of approximately 21,000 MW at various locations in the country. This includes Bunji (7100 MW), Tarbela fourth extension (1399 MW), Kohala (1095 MW), Lower Palas Valley (660 MW), Mahl (599 MW), and Lower spat Gah (495 MW) [ 14 , 81 ]. Apart from these run-of-river projects, there is also a high potential for large-scale reservoir projects (dams) including Diamer Basha (4400 MW), Dasu (4250 MW), Munda (735 MW), Kurram-Tangi (80 MW), and Kalabagh dam (KB) (3600 MW). Apart from electricity generation purposes, dams are also used to control flood in Pakistan. One of the dams used for that purpose is Kala-bagh (KB). At the provincial level, there are some objections for its construction; however, the perception has changed when the dam was used to control flood and saved lives during 2010’s flood [ 83 ]. On that incident, over 2000 people were killed; $ 9.7 billion loss of economy and more than 20 million people were highly affected in terms of their lives, homes, and crops [ 84 , 85 ]. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces were the worst affected, those suffered immense losses [ 86 ]. This massive destruction resulted long-lasting impacts not only on social human life and economy but it has also resulted in destruction of natural environment posing land erosion, killing of wildlife and other natural resources [ 87 ].

The feasibility study of the KB dam showed the construction of a 260-ft high rock-fill dam that would be able to store approximately 7,400,891,131.92 m 3 of water [ 83 ]. The dam consists of two spillways for effective distribution of flood water for instant and appropriate water disposal. During probable floods, these spillways are able to discharge more than 2 million cusecs of water [ 83 ]. The mean annual river flow at KB is high, approximately 111,013,366,978.8 m 3 due to the additional nullahs and other tributaries that join the Indus River between KB dam and Diamer Bhasha dam. So, the approximate volume of flood to be managed at KB dam is around 2,200,000 cusecs [ 88 ]. Therefore, the development of KB dam is important to the government for flood management which capable in preventing future flood risks and combat energy crisis. To realize the full benefits of hydropower generation systems in Pakistan, crucial policy reforms are obligatory to develop hydropower by enhancing sustainable generation capacity.

Conclusions

Energy is crucial to the socio-economic development of all countries. A steady transformation is being observed throughout world from primary energy supplies based on conventional sources to renewable resources. Pakistan continues to formulate efforts towards renewable energy endeavors. However, with the current gap between the demand and production of power in Pakistan, which is approximately 5000–8000 MW with a constant increase of 8–10 % per annum, and the heavy dependence on limited fossil fuel resources, renewable alternatives which are able to commercially support conventional energy options must soon be in full-scale operation. Wind, solar, hydro, and biomass are the resources that are abundantly present in Pakistan. In Table 2 , the energy generation capacities of these resources stand at 120,000 MW for wind, 2,900,000 MW for solar, 5500 MW for biomass, and 42,000 MW for hydropower [ 1 , 14 , 18 , 20 ]. This creates a significant potential to overcome existing fuel needs in the country. This potential capacity is fairly distributed among the different provinces. Sindh is endowed with wind potential in the South, Baluchistan is rich with solar potential in the West, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is rich with hydro in the northeast area. Therefore, existing potential of renewables can be explored in four distant regions for power generation, water/space heating, engine fuel, and stand-alone power systems (SAPS). Though different efforts have been made to address the roadblocks which renewable energy technologies (RETs) face, the development has not been completely viable due to social, technological, economical, and informational hindrances. These concerns are the prime deterrents in the development of renewables. The country’s future energy should come from a balanced mixture of all these resources to steadily decrease its reliance on imported oil. The importance should be given to more rapid and targeted advancement of hydropower as large potential exists in country and most of feasibility studies have been concluded [ 14 , 81 ]. The supply of electricity from wind to grid has already started in 2014. However, it is still a challenge due to some impediments such as absence of infrastructure (e.g., large cranes, road network) and inadequate grid integration ability. Therefore, it is necessary to address these challenges by prioritizing the provision of these facilities. The economical and user friendly solar cookers, solar water heaters, and solar dryers should be progressed, as instantaneous integration approach can have insightful influence on the overall energy demand in Pakistan. The frequent public demonstrations and official campaigns must be carried out to educate the general public regarding environmental and commercial benefits of green energy, which will boost up the acceptability of those facilities. Besides, the specific feasibility studies should be conducted for the installation of large-scale gird connected to solar thermal power stations. The renewable energy syllabus must be introduced from the primary to the university levels in the institutions to develop consensus in support of accepting renewables as energy sources in Pakistan. The graduate students should be sent to foreign institutions to acquire more knowledge on emerging renewable energy technologies. Policies for buying small scale renewable energy systems using a payable loan scheme for public should be framed. Security, law, and order situations in country must be addressed at priority basis to encourage the attention of the local and foreign investors to invest in renewable energy. The power demand of Pakistan is projected to increase up to 11,000 MW by the year 2030 [ 1 ]. Therefore, a more holistic approach by addressing all above mentioned issues are important to fully utilize the renewable energy potential to achieve a sustainable energy future of the country. A determined political will is the key to energy independence.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.

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Raheem, A., Abbasi, S.A., Memon, A. et al. Renewable energy deployment to combat energy crisis in Pakistan. Energ Sustain Soc 6 , 16 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-016-0082-z

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Pakistan Urgently Needs Significant Investments in Climate Resilience to Secure its Economy and Reduce Poverty

ISLAMABAD, November 10, 2022 —This year’s heatwave and devastating floods are a reminder that climate change-induced disasters can significantly set back Pakistan’s development ambitions and its ability to reduce poverty. These disasters have caused more than 1,700 deaths and displaced more than 8 million people. The damage to infrastructure, assets, crops, and livestock has also been massive, with more than $30 billion in damages and economic losses. The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Pakistan released today concludes that the country needs fundamental shifts in its development path and policies, requiring substantial investments in people-centric climate adaptation and resilience, that will require international support.

“The recent flooding and humanitarian crisis provide a wake-up call for urgent action to prevent further devastation to the people of Pakistan and its economy due to climate change,” said Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia. “Accelerated climate actions can protect the economy from shocks and secure more sustainable and inclusive growth in Pakistan.”

The CCDR notes that the combined risks of extreme climate-related events, environmental degradation, and air pollution are projected to reduce Pakistan’s GDP by at least 18 to 20% by 2050. This will stall progress on economic development and poverty reduction.

“If we want to tackle climate change, we need to prioritize investing in adaptation to help prepare Pakistan for future climate-related calamities, which are growing in frequency and intensity,” said Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President for Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan . “ With the right policy frameworks, Pakistan has the opportunity to attract private investment to build its resilience, particularly in sectors such as water management, agriculture, urban infrastructure, municipal services, and housing.”

To improve adaptation to climate change and avoid high costs, the report recommends five priority transitions:

1. Transforming the Agri-Food System: Productivity in the agri-food system – the largest employer, particularly for poor and vulnerable households – has been plummeting due to the degradation of land, overuse of chemical inputs and water, and lack of research. And yields are projected to drop another 50% by 2050. To bolster rural incomes and strengthen food and water security, Pakistan needs to repurpose environmentally damaging subsidies, promote climate-smart and regenerative agriculture and livestock systems, and prioritize ecosystem restoration.

2. Building Resilient and Livable Cities: Pakistan’s population living in urban areas, already highly exposed to pollution and climate change, will increase from 37% in 2020 to 60% in 2050. To ensure cities become more liveable, urgent reforms are needed for more integrated land use planning and increased investments in municipal services and in energy efficiency and clean transportation. To this end, strong municipal governments, and the expansion of city finances via property taxation are critical.

3. Accelerating a Just Transition to Sustainable Energy and Low-carbon Transport: The energy sector is a critical enabler of economic development and poverty reduction. However, it is a huge drain on public finances and foreign exchange reserves and a major contributor to GHG emissions. Pakistan must prioritize reducing the cost of generation including through energy efficiency, ensuring cost-reflective tariffs and improved targeting of subsidies, while addressing technical and collection losses in transmission and distribution. Scaled-up investment in mass transit can avoid locking in highly polluting modes of transport.

4. Strengthening Human Capital to Achieve Sustained and Equitable Development and Climate Resilience: To address its human capital crisis, Pakistan needs to improve the management of water, sanitation, and hygiene, which is the main driver of child stunting, and reduce high fertility rates. Pakistan should also ensure universal access to quality education and expand its social-protection system by improving benefits, particularly for those at the highest risk.

5. Aligning Financing Policies, Incentives, and Institutions to Support Scale-up of Climate Actions: Implementing these policies and executing a climate-resilient and low-carbon development agenda will require total investment needs that amount to around 10% of the cumulative GDP up to 2030. Accelerating the ongoing reforms to expand domestic revenue mobilization, including raising new municipal and property taxes, as well as improving efficiency and targeting of subsidies for agriculture and energy while protecting the most vulnerable will help to finance a large part of the needed investments. Yet, this will not be enough. A comprehensive financing strategy, involving greater private sector involvement and significant international support will be essential to complement Pakistan’s own commitment towards resilient and inclusive development.

“Foreign private capital can play an important role in addressing the climate change challenges in Pakistan,” said Ethiopis Tafara, MIGA Vice President and Chief Risk, Legal and Administrative Officer. “Sustaining flows of foreign direct investment that support climate mitigation and adaptation will contribute toward financing Pakistan’s low-carbon transition.”

Pakistan is not a significant contributor to global warming, but it is on a high-growth trajectory of carbon emissions linked to fossil fuel use. This is also a source of the country’s chronic fiscal stress and worsening air pollution. Therefore, climate actions that bring co-benefits to both adaptation and mitigation and contribute to improving development outcomes should have the highest priority.

--------------------------------------------------

World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports

The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are new core diagnostic reports that integrate climate change and development considerations. They will help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation, while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support a low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector, and development partners, and enable engagement with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs will feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements and operations, and help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.

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Pakistan Energy Crisis; Causes, Consequences and Solutions

January 20, 2023
Pakistan Energy Crisis; Causes ...

Table of Contents

Pakistan has been facing an energy crisis for several years. The main causes of the crisis include a lack of investment in new power generation capacity, outdated and inefficient power plants, and inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure. Additionally, the country has long struggled with issues of energy theft and non-payment of bills by consumers.

The crisis has led to frequent power outages, which have negatively impacted economic growth and the daily lives of citizens. The government has taken steps to address the crisis, such as investing in new power generation projects and implementing policies to reduce energy theft, but more work needs to be done to fully resolve the issue.

Causes of Energy Crisis in Pakistan

The energy crisis in Pakistan is caused by a combination of factors, including:

Insufficient power generation capacity: Pakistan has not invested enough in new power generation projects, leading to a shortage of electricity.
Inefficient power plants: A large portion of Pakistan’s power generation capacity is from old and inefficient power plants, which consume more fuel and produce less electricity.
Transmission and distribution losses: The transmission and distribution infrastructure in Pakistan is inadequate and outdated, leading to significant losses of electricity during transmission and distribution.
Power theft and non-payment of bills: Power theft is a major problem in Pakistan, as is the non-payment of bills by consumers. This leads to a financial crisis for power companies, which then struggle to generate enough revenue to maintain and expand their operations.
Fuel shortages: Pakistan has been facing fuel shortages for power generation, which leads to power outages and load shedding.
Dependence on oil-based power generation: Pakistan is highly dependent on oil-based power generation, which makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices.
Water scarcity: Pakistan has been facing water scarcity which leads to the non-availability of water to run hydro-power stations at full capacity.
Political instability: Political instability and lack of continuity in policies have led to the neglect of power projects and lack of investment.

Overall, resolving the energy crisis in Pakistan will require a combination of short-term solutions, such as increasing power generation capacity and reducing transmission and distribution losses, as well as longer-term solutions, such as investing in renewable energy sources and improving the overall efficiency of the power sector.

Consequences of Energy Crisis in Pakistan

The energy crisis in Pakistan has had a number of negative consequences for the country and its citizens:

Economic damage: The energy crisis has had a significant negative impact on Pakistan’s economy. Businesses have been forced to close or scale back operations due to power outages, and the lack of reliable electricity has made it difficult for industries to operate at full capacity.
Reduced quality of life: Power outages have caused inconvenience and hardship for citizens, particularly during the hot summer months. Inadequate access to electricity has also made it difficult for people to access basic services such as education and healthcare.
Increased poverty: The energy crisis has contributed to increased poverty in Pakistan, as many people have lost their jobs or seen their incomes reduced due to power outages and the resulting economic damage.
Environmental damage: The energy crisis has led to increased use of fossil fuels and wood-burning for power generation, which has contributed to air and water pollution and deforestation.
Reduced foreign investment: The energy crisis has led to reduced foreign investment in Pakistan, as investors are deterred by the lack of reliable electricity and other infrastructure.
Loss of competitiveness: Pakistan’s energy crisis has led to increased production costs, which has resulted in reduced competitiveness in international markets.
Political instability: The energy crisis has led to social unrest and protests against the government.
Dependence on imports: Pakistan’s energy crisis has led to increased dependence on imported energy, which has strained the country’s balance of payments and further weakened its economy.

Overall, the energy crisis in Pakistan has had a wide-reaching and negative impact on the country’s economy and society, and resolving the crisis will be crucial for achieving long-term economic growth and development.

Solutions of the Energy Crisis in Pakistan

There are a number of potential solutions to the energy crisis in Pakistan, including:

Increasing power generation capacity: Pakistan needs to invest in new power generation projects, such as building new power plants and expanding existing ones, in order to increase the country’s overall power generation capacity.
Developing renewable energy sources: Pakistan should invest in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and to lower its greenhouse gas emissions.
Improving the efficiency of power plants: Pakistan should invest in upgrading its existing power plants to increase their efficiency and reduce the amount of fuel they consume.
Upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure: Pakistan should improve its transmission and distribution infrastructure to reduce losses of electricity during transmission and distribution, which will improve the overall efficiency of the power sector.
Reducing power theft and non-payment of bills: The government should implement policies and measures to reduce power theft and improve bill collection to make the power sector financially stable.
Increasing water storage: Pakistan should invest in increasing water storage capacity, so that water can be stored during the monsoon season and used to generate power during the dry season.
Improving energy conservation: Pakistan should invest in energy conservation measures, such as promoting energy-efficient appliances and buildings, to reduce the overall demand for electricity.
Diversifying energy mix: To reduce dependence on oil-based power generation and to decrease the impact of fluctuation of oil prices, the government should invest in diversifying the energy mix to include coal, hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy.
Improving governance: The government should work on improving governance by promoting transparency and accountability in the power sector and ensuring continuity in policies.

Implementing these solutions will require significant investment, political will and strong governance. Additionally, it will take time to see the results and to fully resolve the energy crisis in Pakistan.

The energy crisis in Pakistan: A possible solution via biomass-based waste

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Muhammad Sufyan Javed , Rizwan Raza , Irtaza Hassan , Rehan Saeed , Nusrat Shaheen , Javed Iqbal , Saleem F. Shaukat; The energy crisis in Pakistan: A possible solution via biomass-based waste. J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1 July 2016; 8 (4): 043102. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4959974

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Developing countries like Pakistan need a continuous supply of clean and cheap energy. It is a very common fear in today's world that the fossil fuels will be depleted soon and the cost of energy is increasing day-by-day. Renewable energy sources and technologies have the potential to provide solutions to long-standing energy problems faced by developing countries. Currently, Pakistan is experiencing a critical energy crisis and renewable energy resources can be the best alternatives for quickly terminating the need for fossil fuels. The renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass energy combined with fuel cell technology can be used to overcome the energy shortage in Pakistan. Biomass is a promising renewable energy source and is gaining more interest because it produces a similar type of fuel like crude oil and natural gas. Energy from biomass only depends upon the availability of raw materials; therefore, biomass can play an important role to fulfill the energy requirements of the modern age. The use of energy has increased greatly since the last century and almost all human activities have become more dependent on energy. Biomass, being a potential and indigenous candidate, could be a good solution to meet the energy needs of Pakistan. In this review paper, the detailed current energy requirements and solutions from available energy resources and the scope, potential, and implementation of biomass conversion to energy in Pakistan are explored with a special focus on the major province of Punjab and the advantages of biomass for energy purposes.

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Unveiling Pakistan’s Energy Crisis: Causes And Solutions

Natasha Matloob
Citizens' Voice , Main Slider

Roots of the Energy Crisis in Pakistan

Unaffordable Energy Mix
High Circular Debt in the Energy Sector
Lack of Political Consensus
Poor Economic Growth
Energy Theft

Addressing Pakistan's Energy Crisis: A Path to Sustainable Solutions and Power Sector Reform

Investment in Renewable Energy Sources

Conclusion:

Pollution: Impact, Causes, And Solutions For A Cleaner World

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Today's Paper | June 05, 2024

Average daily gas

700mmcfd shortfall

Off-flexold rural villges

436.2 millionbb 2007 est

30,090 bbl/day 2007 est

NATURAL GAS
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The year started with the shut down of Uch power plant producing 585MW of electricity, as one of the pipelines providing fuel was blown up in the district of Jaffarabad. Pakistan faced one of its most crucial gas crises, with the shortfall rising up to 1.8 billion cubic feet (bcf). The year also experienced the worst CNG load shedding resulting in losses and problems for the consumers. However OGRA increased the gas tariff by 14 per cent in the beginning of the year which was one of the biggest tariff hikes in the history of Pakistan. Moreover, the energy shortfall reached up to 2,700 MW.

Sheikhan gas field, which is located in Kohat, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, was discovered. Moreover, the torrential rainfall in the year resulted in floods which caused much damage to the existing infrastructure transmitting/transferring energy and fuel. Towards the end of the year, country’s first rental power plant (RPP), with the capacity of 232 MW was inaugurated in Karachi.

NASHPA oil fields were discovered in Karak district of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the same year, Karachi faced one of its most crucial power breakdowns on June 17 in which the entire city was without power for 21 hours and more.Moreover, the country faced a power shortfall of 4,500 MW in the same year with the domestic demand rising up to 11,000 MW. However only 6,500 MW of generated power was catering to the entire demand.

The demand and supply gap pertaining to electricity in Pakistan increased by 15 per cent.The major load shedding crisis also commenced in the same year with power outages extending up to 16 hours a day in many cities of the country.

Pakistan faced one of its biggest power failures after Bhutto’s assassination in which production fell by 6,000 MW.

Mela oil fields were discovered in the area of Kohat located in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

International Sovereign Energy, a Canadian company, signed an MoU with Oil and Gas Development Company Limited. The memorandum entailed further development of Toot Oil Fields. Pakistan was hit by one of its most devastating earthquakes which resulted in a vast damage to the infrastructural capital responsible for transmitting/transferring fuel. In the December of 2005, Karachi electric Supply Company, one of the largest vertically integrated power supply company in Pakistan was privatised.

Chanda oil fields located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa started oil production.

Balochistan Liberation Army allegedly bombed one of the minor pipelines transmitting gas from Sui gas fields.

The oil fields owned by Union Texas Pakistan were producing more oil than the Potwar wells.

Rajjan oil field, located in Gujjar Khan, was discovered.

Qadirpur gas field was discovered in the province of Sindh. It remains the third largest gas field in Pakistan.

Dakni gas field started commercial production in December 1989.

The year witnessed the peak in oil production from Toot Oilfields which was 2,400 barrels per day. Moreover, Chak Naurang field located 90 kms away from Islamabad was discovered in the June of 1986.

Tando Adam oil field, located in Hyderabad, was drilled and completed.

Dakni gas field, located about 135 Kms in the south-west of Islamabad, was discovered in 1983.

Union Texas Pakistan discovered an oil field in lower Sindh.

Dhodak gas field was discovered in the province of Punjab.

The commercial production from Toot Oilfields started in 1967.

The Toot Oilfields, located in the Potwar region of Punjab were found. During Ayub Khan’s regime Pakistan Petroleum and Pakistan Oilfields explored and drilled the first well. Toot Oilfields have an approximate capacity to produce 60 million barrels of oil.

Commercial drilling and exploring of Sui gas fields was started. Sui gas field contributes substantially to fulfil Pakistan’s fuel requirements and have a daily production of approximately 550 MMscf.Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) discovered gas reserves at Uch gas field.

The first oil field in Pakistan was discovered in the province of Balochistan near a Sui gas field. During the same time period, Sui gas field, which remains the biggest natural gas field in Pakistan, was discovered.

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Improving energy resilience in pakistan can avert 175,000 child and adult deaths, a new unicef study finds that investing in resilient energy would also add us$ 2.3 billion to pakistan’s economy, bring a triple return on investment and boost education..

three girls and two boys laugh and wash their hands at UNICEF supported hand pump in Sindh Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/ NEW YORK, 31 May 2024 – A new UNICEF study shows that powering more health facilities with resilient energy in Pakistan could avert over 175,000 deaths by 2030 and contribute US$ 296 million to Pakistan’s economy by 2044 by the reduced maternal, adult and infant mortality, as well as a lower disease burden as a result of greater energy resilience.

Resilient energy refers to a reliable, flexible, accessible, and quality power supply that can withstand and recover quickly from unanticipated shocks, such as power outages and floods. Investment in resilient energy across health, education and water services can lead to other substantial gains for children in the country and return up to triple the investment, according to the study conducted by the Economist Impact Unit for UNICEF.

For example, providing resilient electricity to schools would reduce dropout rates and improve children’s learning so they can earn more in the future. This would add US$ 2.3 billion to Pakistan’s economy by 2040, as per the research. Given that Pakistan recently declared an education emergency, investments that address energy resilience could help to get 26 million out-of-school children back in the classroom. It would also potentially power approximately 20 per cent of schools that are off the grid in two Pakistani provinces.

In addition, temperatures have hit over 50C in some parts due to relentless heatwaves. The demand for electricity has surged putting a strain on existing electricity sources. With loadshedding and massive shortages, cooling is difficult. This can put children’s health in danger, and lead to dehydration, diarrhoea and more serious complications.

“Children depend on schools, health centres and safe drinking water for their survival, yet these facilities often don’t have the electricity supply to function optimally. As the current heatwave grips the country, electricity needs have skyrocketed leading to shortfalls that can endanger children’s health,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. “This research underscores the importance of implementing resilient energy solutions, which not only safeguard children's lives and enhance their well-being but also contribute to economic growth. Clearly, this a win-win for everyone in Pakistan: children, families, teachers, private sector and the economy. And the urgency to turn to renewable energy is greater than ever before, especially for our children, who suffer the impacts of climate change daily.”

Worldwide 3.5 billion people live without reliable power, mostly in developing regions, where power outages can interrupt surgeries at hospitals and cause drinking water sources such as tube wells to fail.

In addition, climate change is disrupting the generation and distribution of energy. During the 2022 Pakistan floods, almost half of the water structures, such as water storage tanks, wells and supply main lines were damaged. The floods severely damaged the main river system, responsible for 25 per cent of Pakistan’s energy supply.

In response, UNICEF restored water systems to benefit 350,000 people in 375 locations using smarter design. The floor level of the new wells was raised to above the level of projected floods, with frame structures that provide stability and protection walls that reduce potential damage.

The study finds that if resilient energy is fully utilized, families and children in remote areas can have better water quality and supply, with fewer power outages. This can protect children from diseases and boost agricultural output.

Investment and political action from both the public and private sectors can help to bring about a green and just energy transition. UNICEF is therefore calling for:

Greater investment in resilient, sustainable and green energy solutions for healthcare, education and safe water provision in developing countries. These solutions are the best, most efficient and cost-effective ways to address energy shortages given the climate crisis and to achieve net-zero goals. The investments could also go beyond the business value chain.
Supportive policies and initiatives that promote the adoption of renewable energy.
Partnerships with development finance institutions to offer blended finance solutions.

Providing renewable energy is a critical part of UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Agenda. So far, UNICEF has implemented several solar electrification initiatives. For example, three 250 kWp hospital solar systems were installed across Pakistan for uninterrupted supply of renewable energy to power equipment to save newborns and their mothers. Even globally, in 2022, UNICEF provided 12,514 solar-powered vaccine cold chain equipment and constructed 1,855 solar water systems, which helped people and children in communities, health-care facilities and schools to have safe water.

“Pakistan has an abundance of renewable resources and by investing in them we are tapping into a goldmine to help children,” added Fadil. “But we cannot do it alone. We need the private sector to play a bigger role as public sector resources will not be enough. This is everybody’s business.”

Notes to the editors

The full report is available here.

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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org

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