Navigating Sustainable Energy Transition in Pakistan (2015–2025): Policies, Challenges, and Pathways

There was a slow yet transformative change in the renewable energy sector in Pakistan during the period of 2015–2025, which was brought by persistent energy shortages, increasing fossil fuel imports, and global climate pressures. The main pillars of this switch became solar, wind, and hydropower, and such large-scale projects as the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Jhimpir-Gharo Wind Corridor, and big and small hydro facilities became the parts of the energy mix diversification. The use of policy instruments, such as net metering (2015) and the Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy (2019) also enabled utility-scale and decentralized use of renewable energy and enabled households and communities to actively engage in power production. The sector proved to be resilient despite structural, financial, and governance issues, including circular debt, grid inefficiency, and subsidy distortions, particularly in the times of climate crises, such as floods and heatwaves. The 2015–2025 decade has been a foundation towards a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient energy future with consistency of policy, technological innovation and regional cooperation being key in ensuring the attainment of renewable energy security in Pakistan and South Asia.