Overcoming electricity crisis in Pakistan: A review of sustainable electricity options

Pakistan is facing severe electricity supply shortages, causing forced power outages over the last decade ranging from 8 to 12 h a day in urban areas and up to 18 h in rural areas. The major causes behind the increasing gap between supply and demand are mainly increases in electricity demand on one hand, and depleting energy resources and financial constraints on the other. In this context the government has been taking various measures, including a partial restructuring of the electricity sector under guidelines from international financing institutes. At present, the country is, therefore, not only facing a serious challenge of meeting the electricity demand but is also facing the challenge of ensuring energy security in the context of globally important climate change issues. The role of policy makers at this stage is crucial for not only assessing and reviewing the current strategies to minimize the electricity supply and demand gap, but also the need to develop future strategies, ensuring affordable electricity with efficient generation, transmission and distribution towards sustainable development in the country. This paper provides a review of the current energy situation, discussion on policy drivers and plans, analysis of the issues of the power sector as well as recommendations for narrowing the electricity supply-demand gap towards sustainable electricity for the country.