Pakistan Electricity Consumption Up 21% in Just Two Years
Pakistan is experiencing soaring demand for electricity across all of the sectors of its economy. The new demand is being met by rapidly growing deployment of distributed solar, estimated at 38 GW as of June, 2025. In 2025, 44% of solar deployment was residential, followed by industry (26%), agriculture (21%) and commercial users (9%). The expansion of distributed solar has enhanced electrification across the economy, lifting Pakistan's electrification rate to 21.7% in FY2025 from 17% in FY2023, close to the global average of 22%. This surge to over 200 terawatt-hours of electricity is not reflected in official data, according to a report by Ember Energy titled "The solarization of Pakistan's energy economy".
The solar energy revolution in Pakistan is led by consumers. Driven by soaring electricity costs, unreliable grid infrastructure, and cheap imported solar panels, millions of households and businesses have installed rooftop solar. This rapid transition to solar has transformed the country's energy landscape. According to the report, Pakistan’s total electricity demand increased by 33 terawatt-hours (TWh) between fiscal years 2023 and 2025. Distributed solar generation alone grew by 36 TWh during the same period, making it the primary driver of electricity demand growth and offsetting declines elsewhere in the power system.
"Pakistan has a thirst for energy, and solar is providing it," said Dave Jones, Chief Analyst at Ember. "Distributed solar is so fast and cheap to build, that it is actually driving up electricity demand." The newly added solar capacity has saved more than US$12 billion in oil and gas imports by February, 2026, Ember said, as well as enabling growth in the agriculture, industrial and commercial parts of Pakistan’s economy.
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| Actual Solar Deployment in Pakistan Far Exceeds Official Stats. Source: Ember |
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https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-transport/new-record-lows-for-battery-prices/
Lithium-ion battery prices dropped again in 2025, with average prices coming down 8% to $108 per kilowatt-hour, according to BloombergNEF’s annual price survey.
China still leads
China’s lead in low battery prices continued in 2025, with average prices in the country dropping 13% to $84/kWh. This is due to a combination of lower input costs, overcapacity, intense price competition and preference for lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells.
Prices in North America and Europe were 44% and 56% higher, which is a big part of why EVs in those regions still cost more than their combustion counterparts. In China, price parity has already been achieved in almost all vehicle segments.
This year, the lowest observed cell and pack prices were just $36/kWh and $50/kWh, respectively. These were for LFP batteries going into stationary storage applications. Similar lows were observed last year, which indicates these price levels are no longer extreme outliers.
BNEF has been doing this price survey for 15 years now, and each year when the top-line number lands, there’s a steady stream of commentary attributing the drop to producers slashing margins. Margins did dip slightly in the first half of this year, but that alone doesn’t fully account for the drop. There’s real innovation and efficiency improvements going on, too, and prices are now down 93% since 2010 in real terms.
Material price rise
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline from the 2025 survey is what didn’t happen.
Cobalt prices rose sharply this year after the Democratic Republic of the Congo introduced export quotas, and lithium ticked up, too. But battery prices didn’t rise. The industry absorbed these shocks through greater LFP adoption, long-term contracts and broader hedging strategies.
This is a markedly different picture from just a few years ago, when higher reliance on nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cathodes meant a spike in metal prices led directly to batteries bucking their long-term downward trend.
It’s probably too early to celebrate — if elevated metal prices persist, the effect will eventually show up in battery figures — but even this level of resilience to underlying material price changes shows how far the battery industry has come.
The diversification trend is set to continue in the years ahead as sodium-ion battery production capacity is starting to come online, and other new cathode and anode chemistries are approaching commercialization.
Stationary storage costs are plummeting
The average pack price for stationary storage systems dropped to $70/kWh, 45% lower than in 2024. This is the sharpest drop across all segments and makes stationary storage the lowest-priced segment for the first time.
This was largely driven by intense competition in China, where there’s immense overcapacity for battery cells specifically aimed at stationary storage applications. China’s production for stationary storage cells in 2025 is estimated at 557 GWh, over double global installations in the sector.
This energy storage technology is harnessing the potential of solar and wind power—and its deployment is growing exponentially.
https://www.wired.com/story/grid-scale-battery-storage-is-quietly-revolutionizing-the-energy-system/
Making sure there are always enough generators spooled up to send electricity to every single power outlet in the country requires precise coordination. And while the amount of electricity actually used can swing drastically throughout the day and year, the grid is built to meet the brief periods of peak demand, like the hot summer days when air conditioning use can double average electricity consumption. Imagine building a 30-lane highway to make sure no driver ever has to tap their brakes. That’s effectively what those who design and run the grid have had to do.
But what if you could just hold onto electricity for a bit and save it for later? You wouldn’t have to overbuild the grid or spend so much effort keeping power generation in equilibrium with users. You could smooth over the drawbacks of intermittent power sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide, like wind and solar. You could have easy local backup power in emergencies when transmission lines are damaged. You may not even need a giant, centralized power grid at all.
That’s the promise of grid-scale energy storage. And while the US has actually been using a crude form of energy storage called pumped hydroelectric power storage for decades, the country is now experiencing a gargantuan surge in energy storage capacity, this time from a technology that most of us are carrying around in our pockets: lithium-ion batteries. Between 2021 and 2024, grid battery capacity increased fivefold. In 2024, the US installed 12.3 gigawatts of energy storage. This year, new grid battery installations are on track to almost double compared to last year. Battery storage capacity now exceeds pumped hydro capacity, totaling more than 26 gigawatts.
There’s still plenty of room to expand—and a pressing need to do so. The power sector remains the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and there will be no way to add enough intermittent clean energy to sufficiently decarbonize the grid without cheap and plentiful storage.
The aging US grid is also in dire need of upgrades, and batteries can cushion the shock of adding gigawatts of wind and solar while buying some time to perform more extensive renovations. Some power markets are finally starting to understand all the services batteries can provide—frequency regulation, peak shaving, demand response—creating new lines of business. Batteries are also a key tool in building smaller, localized versions of the power grid. These microgrids can power remote communities with reliable power and one day shift the entire power grid into a more decentralized system that can better withstand disruptions like extreme weather.
If we can get it right, true grid-scale battery storage won’t just be an enabler of clean energy, but a way to upgrade the power system for a new era.
https://youtu.be/EKJqOh2hqmA?is=nkcpeipDe4CJKrO0
In just two years, the country installed an astonishing 27 GW of distributed solar—roughly equivalent to the capacity of every coal, gas and oil power plant ever built in Pakistan. The result isn't simply more renewable energy. It's the rapid electrification of homes, farms, businesses and industry, powered by some of the cheapest solar panels ever manufactured.
Ember's Dave Jones explains why Pakistan's experience could become the blueprint for dozens of developing countries. We discuss cheap Chinese solar, electrification, batteries, economic development, LNG demand, EVs and why distributed energy may allow the Global South to leapfrog the fossil-fuel model that powered the industrial revolution.
If Pakistan is the first large-scale proof that distributed solar can transform an economy, the implications reach far beyond South Asia.
I think this framing better reflects the interview's central argument: this isn't primarily a climate story—it's an economic development story driven by disruptive technology. That theme comes through repeatedly in the discussion.
https://www.miragenews.com/world-bank-boosts-pakistans-grid-for-reliable-1707915/#google_vignette
WASHINGTON, July 09, 2026 - The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors today approved US$375.9 million in financing for Pakistan's Grid Stability Enhancement Project, to strengthen its national power transmission network under the Boosting Energy Security through Transmission in Pakistan (BEST-PAK) Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA). The Project is the first phase of a 10-year program to help Pakistan modernize its electricity transmission network, reduce power outages, and bring more clean energy to homes, businesses, and industries.
"Pakistan's energy challenges are deeply interconnected with its broader economic stability," said Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. "By investing in advanced technologies for more resilient transmission infrastructure, this project will contribute to reducing electricity costs, bring more renewable energy onto the grid, and lay the groundwork for a power sector that works better for households, businesses and industries, as well as overall Pakistan's economy."
Pakistan's electricity network has long struggled with grid instability and transmission bottlenecks that limit the delivery of reliable power and leave clean energy generation underutilized. These constraints affect millions of Pakistanis every day through frequent outages, higher electricity costs, and lost economic opportunities.
The project will install advanced equipment to stabilize the transmission grid and improve the flow of electricity at key substations. This includes Static Synchronous Compensators, or STATCOMs, - at three major 500 kV substations, as well as fixed reactors and capacitor banks across 26 grid substations. These upgrades will help bring 640 MW of currently curtailed wind energy onto the grid, enabling the full use of 1,840 MW of wind capacity in southern Pakistan by moving power to major demand centers. They will also support the integration of approximately 491 MW of planned private sector-led renewable energy projects. Together, these improvements will help Pakistan move toward its national commitment of achieving 60 percent renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030, in line with the country's Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement. Over its lifetime, the project is expected to avoid approximately 832,500 tons of CO₂ emissions each year, or more than 20.8 million tons cumulatively over 25 years.
"A reliable and modern transmission grid is essential for Pakistan's energy future," said Waleed Saleh Alsuraih, Lead Energy Specialist for the World Bank's BEST‑PAK program in Pakistan. "As the first phase of the BEST-PAK program, it unlocks a pathway to large-scale clean energy deployment, stronger energy security, and a modern, commercially oriented transmission sector through targeted infrastructure investments and institutional reforms, creating the conditions for future private capital participation."
The project also advances the Government's ongoing transmission-sector reform agenda, centered on the restructuring of National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) into specialized successor entities. Drawing on relevant international experience adapted to Pakistan's needs, it supports faster implementation of reforms designed to strengthen governance, accountability, operational performance, and the long-term sustainability of the power sector.
Pakistan is among the countries most exposed to climate-related risks, including river and urban flooding and extreme heat events. The project's design accounts for these realities, by requiring all new installations to meet climate-resilient specifications, including elevated platforms above ground to mitigate flood exposure and equipment designed to operate in temperatures of up to 55°C. These measures will help ensure reliable performance during monsoon seasons and heatwaves.
https://youtu.be/EKJqOh2hqmA?is=nkcpeipDe4CJKrO0
Pakistan has quietly become one of the world's most important energy stories.
In just two years, the country installed an astonishing 27 GW of distributed solar—roughly equivalent to the capacity of every coal, gas and oil power plant ever built in Pakistan. The result isn't simply more renewable energy. It's the rapid electrification of homes, farms, businesses and industry, powered by some of the cheapest solar panels ever manufactured.
Ember's Dave Jones explains why Pakistan's experience could become the blueprint for dozens of developing countries. We discuss cheap Chinese solar, electrification, batteries, economic development, LNG demand, EVs and why distributed energy may allow the Global South to leapfrog the fossil-fuel model that powered the industrial revolution.
If Pakistan is the first large-scale proof that distributed solar can transform an economy, the implications reach far beyond South Asia.
I think this framing better reflects the interview's central argument: this isn't primarily a climate story—it's an economic development story driven by disruptive technology. That theme comes through repeatedly in the discussion.
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Refrigerator Sales Surge in Pakistan
Pakistan's refrigerator market accounts for ~56% of the country's major household appliances sector. Market penetration sits around 51-56%, with unit sales expected to surge 20% to 339,000 units in CY26. Industry leaders include Haier, Dawlance, Pak Elektron Limited (PAEL), and Waves.
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EV Sales Surge in Pakistan
Electric vehicle adoption in Pakistan is exploding in the two-wheeler sector due to soaring fuel costs and the new Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) program. Electric-bike registrations surged by 322% year-on-year with cumulative sales reaching 125,511 units by May, capturing over 10% of the monthly two-wheeler market.
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Air conditioner (AC) Sales Surge in Pakistan
Pakistan's air conditioning sector represents a massive market estimated at Rs 190 billion annually. However, in June 2026, the industry experienced a supply glut as delayed summer rains and later heatwaves caused consumer demand to lag behind aggressive manufacturer production targets.
https://www.dawn.com/news/2007197
This improvement was primarily driven by a 6.5pc rebound in Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM), 8.5pc surge in Small-Scale Manufacturing (SSM), and 6.2pc growth in slaughtering.
The manufacturing and mining sectors are critical to Pakistan’s industrial base and jointly contribute 13.5pc to GDP. Within manufacturing, LSM plays a dominant role, accounting for 67.4pc of the sector and 8.2pc of GDP, followed by SSM and slaughtering, which contribute 2.5pc and 1.4pc to GDP, respectively.
However, the mining and quarrying sector posted a modest growth of 0.4pc in FY26, indicating a gradual recovery in extraction activities.
The survey has highlighted that LSM grew by 6.5pc during July-March 2025-26, indicating a broad-based revival in industrial activity, compared to a 1.9pc contraction in the same period last year, which was primarily a continuation of the contraction that began in FY23 due to import restrictions.
In March alone, LSM expanded by 11.1pc, compared with a contraction of 2.4pc a year ago.
Automobile sector
The survey said that the auto industry showed growth across all sectors during July-March FY26, except for farm tractor sector, where production and sales were down by 8pc and 13pc, respectively. Additionally, wartime conditions have significantly increased costs for local tractor OEMs.
The survey highlighted that the auto sector had seen rising investment and was adopting new technologies, and that the industry was well-positioned to maintain its growth trajectory.
Pakistan’s Rs 328 billion major appliance market is recovering rapidly, led by Air Conditioners (23% share, ~190B) and Refrigerators (56%). Driven by rising temperatures, expanding solar power, and economic stability, PAEL projects 20% growth in CY2026, with sales expected to exceed 105,000 ACs and 339,000 refrigerators.The market is fiercely competitive, dominated by local and international manufacturing giants. Key dynamics and brands include:Market Leaders: Top players like Haier, Dawlance, and Pak Elektron (PAEL) command the majority of the market.Air Conditioners: This is the fastest-growing major appliance segment. Waves Corporation is aggressively expanding back into this category using Completely Knocked Down (CKD) strategies to avoid import bottlenecks.Deep Freezers: Waves retains a ~40% market share, with PAEL holding another 15%.Refrigerator Penetration: Household penetration remains at 51%, leaving substantial long-term growth potential for manufacturers.Solar Integration: The rise in distributed solar generation is driving notable shifts in appliance demand, allowing consumers to efficiently run cooling appliances (fans, ACs) during daylight hours.
https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/the-solarisation-of-pakistans-energy-economy/
The breakdown of Pakistan's electricity generation includes the following sources:
Solar & Distributed Renewables: ~25% to 28%
Hydropower: ~24% to 29%
Fossil Fuels (Thermal): ~35% to 40% (comprising a mix of imported coal, domestic coal, natural gas, and furnace oil)
Nuclear Power: ~9% to 11%
Wind: ~3% to 5% [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Trends:
The Solar Transition: Over the last two years, national electricity demand surged by 21%, with the entirety of this growth met by behind-the-meter residential and commercial solar installations. This explosive growth—totaling an estimated 38 GW of distributed solar capacity—has lowered daytime reliance on the national grid. [1]
Long-Term Goals: Under its clean energy transition plan, Pakistan aims for 58% of its overall electricity generation to stem from renewable sources by 2030. [1]
The country’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves have increased by around USD 1.18 billion in a week following the arrival of commercial loan inflows from the Government of Pakistan.
According to weekly report issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday, the total liquid foreign exchange reserves held by the country surged to USD 23.716 billion as of Sep 4, 2026 compared to USD 22.528 billion as of Aug 28, 2026.
During the week under review, SBP’s foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 1.21 billion to USD 18.328 billion jump from USD 17.118 billion a week earlier. “The increase in SBP’s foreign exchange reserves is due to receipt of government of Pakistan commercial loan proceeds,” the report said.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40438973/forex-reserves-surge-to-usd2372bn
However, net foreign reserves held by commercial banks declined by USD 22.5 million to USD 5.388 billion.
The SBP successfully met its foreign exchange reserves target for FY26, with its reserves surpassing USD 18 billion by the end of June 2026. For December 2026, the SBP has set a target of USD 20.20 billion.
https://www.adb.org/where-we-work/pakistan/economy
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Pakistan's GDP growth is expected at 3.7% in 2026 and 2027 – ADO September 2026
Pakistan's inflation rates forecasted at 7.1% in 2026 and 8.3% in 2027 – ADO September 2026
Figures are based on the latest edition of ADB's Asian Development Outlook, which analyzes economic and development issues in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. This includes forecasting the inflation and gross domestic product growth rates of countries throughout the region.
https://www.arabnews.com/business/pakistans-economy-grows-beyond-targets-532871
KARACHI: Pakistan recorded five percent growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the central bank said, beating its target and almost doubling the figure for the same period last year.
The State Bank of Pakistan data for the early months of the financial year began in July, 2013 said GDP grew by 5.0 percent, compared with only 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year.
Pakistan has struggled to energize its economy in recent years.
Growth has bumped along well below the level experts say is needed to absorb new entrants to the workforce from Pakistan's growing, youthful population.
"Since the macroeconomic indicators were favorable at the start of the year, the increase in real GDP growth in fiscal year 2014 was discernible," the bank said.
Pakistan's economists had set a growth target for the current financial year of 4.4 percent, and the central bank in earlier reports had forecast growth of four percent.
The upbeat first quarter performance came on the back of good performances by the industrial and services sectors, the report said.
The bank however warned that inflation swelled to 8.1 percent in the first quarter compared with 5.6 percent in the corresponding period last year.
The IMF approved a $6.7 billion bailout loan package for Pakistan in September last year to help the country achieve economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector.
The fund also observed that Pakistan's economy was picking up.
Overview of Energy Supply & Consumption
• Primary Energy Mix: Fossil fuels make up nearly 70% to 85% of Pakistan's primary energy supply (including natural gas, oil, and coal), with natural gas accounting for around 29%, oil around 27%–29%, and coal around 12%. Renewables and nuclear power make up the remainder (nuclear accounts for roughly 6.5% to 8.4%).
• Per Capita Consumption: Energy consumption per person is low, averaging about 0.4 toe or 11.64 million Btu per year—significantly below the global average.
• Electricity Consumption (July–March FY 2026): According to the Ministry of Finance Pakistan, total grid electricity consumption reached 83,143 GWh, representing a 3.8% increase compared to the previous year:
• Household sector: 47.48% (39,472 GWh)
• Industrial sector: 31.52% (26,205 GWh)
• Commercial sector: 8.47% (7,044 GWh)
• Others (public/government): 9.36% (7,785 GWh)
• Agriculture sector: 3.17% (2,636 GWh)
The Distributed Solar Boom
• Pakistan is undergoing a massive structural shift driven by distributed solar energy rather than the traditional state-run national grid.
• Millions of households, commercial spaces, and agricultural tube wells have rapidly adopted rooftop and off-grid solar panels to bypass high grid tariffs and power shortages.
• While this transition lowers consumer reliance on conventional utilities, it has reduced central grid demand and placed financial pressure on state-run distribution companies and Chinese-backed thermal/coal power projects.
Key Solar Energy Facts in Pakistan
Overtaking Nuclear: Solar generation (36.3 TWh) surpassed Pakistan's nuclear power generation (22.5 TWh) for the first time in 2025, marking an 85% year-on-year increase in solar output. [1, 2]
Installed Capacity: Distributed solar capacity reached an estimated 38 GW to 51 GW as households, farms, and factories rapidly adopted rooftop and off-grid systems. Net-metered capacity alone grew to 6.3 GW. [1, 2, 3]
Drivers of the Boom: Soaring national grid electricity tariffs, unreliable power supply, and sharply declining costs for imported Chinese solar panels (over 58 GW imported since 2017) triggered a massive market-led transition. [1, 2]
Policy Shifts: The government introduced a 10% sales tax on finished PV modules and replaced traditional net-metering with a lower-compensating net-billing framework to manage the rapid off-grid shift. [1]
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said more than 9 million people are benefiting from the program, in which eligible motorists receive a token by text message and present it at a participating gas station, where staff verify their eligibility before applying the discount.
https://mymotherlode.com/news/asia/11198697/pakistan-provides-fuel-aid-to-over-9-million-low-income-people-as-middle-east-war-drives-up-prices.html
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government has provided fuel subsidies to more than 9 million low-income people as the U.S.-Iran war drives up energy prices, officials said Tuesday.
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the program was designed to ease the burden on millions of people as regional geopolitical tensions drove up global fuel prices.
“We have ensured the process remains seamless and agile for citizens,” Khawaja said, describing it as Pakistan’s first nationwide use of technology to deliver targeted fuel subsidies.
Rising petrol and diesel prices have added pressure on a cash-strapped nation already grappling with high inflation, pushing up transportation, food and other living costs and raising fears of anti-government protests.
The program, approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month, offers fuel discounts to eligible motorcycle riders, rickshaw operators and owners of small cars, many of whom depend on their vehicles for work and daily travel.
The subsidies were announced after Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan’s major Islamist political party, threatened to march on Islamabad to pressure the government to cut taxes on petrol and diesel.
Fuel prices in Pakistan have risen by more than 50% since the war between the United States and Iran began earlier this year, adding to pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living. Sharif’s government says the subsidies are intended to help low-income motorists buy gasoline at prewar prices.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said more than 9 million people are benefiting from the program, in which eligible motorists receive a token by text message and present it at a participating gas station, where staff verify their eligibility before applying the discount.
According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the amount and frequency of assistance vary by vehicle type. Motorcycle and three-wheeler users qualify for a discount of 500 rupees ($1.79) a week, with a limit of four tokens a month. That brings their maximum monthly assistance to 2,000 rupees ($7.14).
Owners of cars with engines of up to 800 cubic centimeters are eligible for a discount of 100 rupees (36 cents) per liter on up to 10 liters of gasoline (2.6 gallons) every 10 days. They can receive three tokens a month, saving up to 3,000 rupees ($10.71).
Amir Shahzad, an Islamabad resident, said the subsidy was enough to cover his commute between home and work. However, he added, “if I need to travel to another city, I will have to purchase petrol at the prevailing market price.”
Pakistan relies heavily on loans from the International Monetary Fund, which wants Islamabad to slash subsidies on wheat and other items.
https://www.arabnews.pk/pakistan/pakistan-accelerates-four-major-dam-projects-amid-growing-water-security-concerns-2645567
Projects including Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam and Nai Gaj Dam are expected to improve water availability
Pakistan’s water resources are under growing pressure from erratic rainfall and rapidly melting glaciers linked to climate change pressures
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has accelerated work on four dam projects that are expected to add more than eight million acre-feet (MAF) of water storage capacity, state media reported, as the country seeks to strengthen water security amid growing climate-related challenges.
The projects include the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, and the Nai Gaj Dam, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The dams are expected to improve water availability, enhance flood management, and boost hydropower generation capacity.
Pakistan’s water resources are under increasing pressure from erratic rainfall patterns and the rapid melting of glaciers linked to climate change. Officials have repeatedly warned that the country faces a widening gap between water supply and demand, making additional storage infrastructure a national priority.
“Currently, four major projects with a combined live storage capacity of 8.136 MAF are under implementation,” APP said in a report on Saturday.
“These include the strategically important Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which alone will provide 6.4 MAF of storage capacity, along with Mohmand Dam with 0.676 MAF, Kurram Tangi Dam with 0.90 MAF and Nai Gaj Dam with 0.16 MAF.”
Pakistan’s three main reservoirs are Tarbela Dam, with a live storage capacity of 5.580 MAF, Mangla Dam with 7.277 MAF, and Chashma Barrage with 0.311 MAF, it added.
The report highlighted that the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) designated the current period as the “Decade of Dams”, accelerating major water infrastructure projects to bolster water security amid climate change and rising demand.
The report said reservoir projects with a combined live storage capacity of 15.88 MAF were in the planning and design stages including Sindh Barrage (2.0 MAF), Shyok Dam (5.5 MAF), Akhori Dam (7.0 MAF), Chiniot Dam (0.93 MAF) and Murunj Dam (0.45 MAF).
It added that WAPDA also expanded its hydro-meteorological monitoring and telemetry systems to provide real-time data on river flows, transboundary streams, reservoir levels, and rainfall.
In April, the government said Pakistan had water storage capacity equivalent to about 90 days of demand and announced plans for a high-level task force meeting to address mounting water security concerns.
Last year, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for urgent construction of reservoirs and dams after swollen rivers devastated the breadbasket of the country’s most populous Punjab province.