Evolution of Pakistan's Energy Policies: Balancing Security, Efficiency, and Sustainability

Researchers at Saitama University conducted a comprehensive study analyzing Pakistan's energy policies from 1990 to 2024. The study revealed the country's transition from a singular focus on generation capacity to an integrated approach prioritizing renewable energy and efficiency. The researchers evaluated policy effectiveness and identified implementation barriers, recommending long-term planning, enhanced fiscal incentives, and strengthened institutional support to advance Pakistan's sustainable energy transition.

Key Takeaways:

• Pakistan's energy policies shifted from a focus on generation capacity to an integrated approach prioritizing renewable energy and efficiency between 1990 and 2024.
• Early policies like the National Energy Conservation Policy (1992) and the Energy Policy (1994) emphasized energy security through generation capacity expansion, neglecting renewable sources and efficiency improvements.
• The policy landscape evolved in the 2000s with the introduction of renewable energy incentives and efficiency initiatives, but persistent challenges include short-term planning, inconsistent implementation, and fossil fuels dependence.
• The Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy (2019) and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (2020-2025) demonstrate progress toward sustainable energy practices, but institutional, financial, and regulatory barriers continue to constrain effectiveness.
• The researchers evaluated 22 studies and utilized the Web of Science and Scopus databases to inform their analysis.
• Recommendations include prioritizing long-term planning, enhancing fiscal incentives, and strengthening institutional support to meet global energy security and climate resilience standards.
• The study highlights the importance of balancing energy security, efficiency, and sustainability in Pakistan's energy policy.

Statistics:

• 110 studies were initially screened, with 50 meeting the inclusion criteria and 22 selected for in-depth analysis.
• 22 studies were selected for in-depth analysis, utilizing the Web of Science and Scopus databases.
• 50% of the initially screened studies were eliminated due to lack of relevance, with 22 meeting the inclusion criteria.
• Pakistan's energy policies from 1990 to 2024 were analyzed, revealing a transition from a singular focus on generation capacity to an integrated approach prioritizing renewable energy and efficiency.
• 20 years of research and data collection went into this study.

Sources:

• Energy Policy Evolution in Pakistan: Balancing Security, Efficiency, and Sustainability. Energies, 2025,18(14):3821.
• MDPI AG.
• Saitama University: Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Qaisar Shahzad: PhD (contact information).
• Kentaka Aruga (co-author).
• NewsRx. New Findings Reported from Saitama University Describe Advances in Sustainable Energy (Energy Policy Evolution in Pakistan: Balancing Security, Efficiency, and Sustainability). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. August 15, 2025; p 221.