ENERGY SITUATION IN PAKISTAN - OPTIONS AND ISSUES

Pakistan is suffering badly from energy shortages. The indigenous energy sources are poor, and the country is heavily dependent on the import of fossil fuels from abroad. Economic growth requires adequate energy supplies. Pakistan has rudimentary industrial capacity and will accordingly need large inputs of energy for take-off. In view of the limited energy-resource potential of the country, the provision of assured supplies of energy in the future will not be an easy task. Because of the lack of energy supplies, the process of economic development and industrialization has been retarded, in particular in the rural sector. Many options are available to obtain a sustainable and self-reliant energy future. Important options are introducing efficient energy utilization and conservation programmes, exploring and developing domestic fossil fuels, and introducing renewable/alternative energy sources. These measures would reduce the energy demand pressure on the one hand, and also increase the supply of energy on the other.