Pakistan has been suffering from an energy crisis problem for three decades which adversely affected the country’s economic progress, affected its people’s living standard, and hindered its growth in industrial and agricultural sectors.
The current energy crisis in Pakistan and its analysis which covers the causes behind the energy crisis, its effects, and solutions aimed at allowing Pakistan to constructively formulate its energy future is discussed in this energy crisis in Pakistan essay.
This discussion will be useful if you are writing an essay on the energy crisis in Pakistan for matric or any other level, the same goes for if you need to write an essay on the energy crisis in Pakistan 300 words PDF.
An A Prolific Analysis
Energy needs in Pakistan have similarly risen over its fast-growing population and developing industries; however, available supply has never caught up. Fresh data indicates that in times of high demand, the energy deficit in Pakistan ranges from between 4,000 and 7,000 MW, which has increased load-shedding duration. This Energy Crisis in Pakistan article will explore the causes of the crisis and its impact on every aspect of the country’s population.
Historical Background to the Energy Crisis
To fully understand the essay on the energy crisis in Pakistan 300 words pdf and to see how it has developed over the years the following has to be noted. For several decades after its independence, Pakistan has followed a policy based mainly on the use of fossil and hydraulic resources. Market price risks increased during the 1980s as a result of the increased reliance on imported oil. On the one hand, total energy requirement increased with an increase in the economy and urbanization but the supply-side infrastructure and investment lagged.
Energy Crisis in Pakistan Essay 2017
Recalling the energy crisis in Pakistan essay 2017, the energy crisis continues to plague the urban and rural residents. However, attempts to solve the shortage have remained problematic especially when the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was attempted.
At that time they used to suffer from power shutdown of approximately 10 hours in rural areas and 4-6 hours in urban regions which negatively affected both production and quality of life. Such conditions exist today, though with some degree of enhancements, which makes it easier to realize the issue’s intricate nature.
Exploring the Roots of Pakistan’s Energy Problem
Energy crisis in Pakistan essay for matric student addressing the root cause of the country’s energy crisis
Dependence on Foreign Oil
Pakistan is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, especially oil and natural gas, which constitute over about 64 percent of its energy portfolio. This reliance decreases foreign reserves, most especially when international prices go up. Different from many other countries where domestic fossil resources are available in abundance, Pakistan heavily depends on imports and is therefore a candidate to be affected by economic or any other political change. For instance, changes in the prices of oil over the past years have occasioned such challenges as budget imbalances and inflation, which retard national development.
Lack of Investment in Renewable Resources
Renewable energy, especially solar, wind, and hydropower seems highly prospective in Pakistan; however, the renewable share in energy generation is less than 5 percent. Pakistan’s coastal zones for instance Gharo-Jhimpir zone in Sindh province have wind resources that are greater than 50,000 MW. Nonetheless, due to inadequate financial capital and policy promotion large-scale integration has not occurred, which can revolutionize the energy sector of Pakistan.
Old Age Plants and High T& D Losses
Pakistan’s transmission and distribution system possesses high losses; about 20-25%. This is not just because of technical losses but also because of power theft and obsolete apparatuses. These aspects cost billions of rupees every year with an additional burden on a power sector that is not in a very good condition.
Political Instability and Other Bureaucratic Problems
Political instabilities have been one of the causes of delayed solutions to the energy problem. Fluctuations in government destabilize the industry and put the organization at risk of facing policy changes at any time they are needed. Secondly, government lethargy and bureaucratic bottlenecks slow down new energy projects. For instance, a large number of renewable energy projects have been slowed down by lengthy approval procedures and interest disputes.
Poor Water Management and Hydropower Constraints
Pakistan is generating nearly 30%of of electricity through hydropower. However, constraints like the fluctuating water supply and inadequate water-carrying capacity diminish the benefits of hydropower plants. For instance, several water reservoirs such as Tarbela and Mangla concluded that they encountered low water levels at some critical periods that can suppress energy generation.
Comparing Pakistan’s Energy Crisis with Nearby Countries
Thus, assessing Pakistan on the parameters of other South Asian nations brings the extent and the chronology of the energy calamity into focus. For instance, India needs comparable amounts of energy, but the country is way ahead in renewable power generation by installing more than 100,000 new renewable power generation capacities in the last ten years. This is because it has upright policies with heavy investment from international investors and focuses on renewable resources. Pakistan on the other hand has been adding only a fraction of this capacity hence the need to boost policy reforms and investments.
Effects of the Energy Crisis on Society and Economy
From the energy production to consumption end, Pakistan’s energy crunch inflicts all segments of society with financial losses.
Economic Consequences
Companies have also incurred a huge cost as a result of numerous power breakdowns and cuts and the loss of energy-dependent sectors, including textiles and cement and fertilizer manufacturing. The textile industry is one of the largest sectors with almost 60% of Pakistan’s export earnings and suffers from erratic energy supply which distorts its capacity utilization. This hampers the development of the economy of Pakistan and decreases its potential in the international market. New estimates indicate that energy shortage costs Pakistan 2 to 3 percent of GDP every year.
Effects on Education and Health Sectors
Another sector that is affected is the education sector and institutions as well as the health sector. Schools do not have backup generators and most hospitals, are closed by power blacks that affect learning and healthcare. Students said poor lighting and fans affect their study time as they look for CAPITAL to obtain study light Students also said that poor lighting and fans affect their study time, as they have to seek CAPITAL to buy a study lamp.
Household Burdens
Load-shedding has availed the use of costly sources of energy such as diesel generators, and UPS systems among many others. For middle and lower-income earners, this additional cost only serves to overstress the family’s financial needs. It becomes worse during the summer season because they use electricity a lot due to high temperatures, which results in long hours of power outages and health risks, especially for citizens with disabilities, children, and the elderly.
The Effects of Energy Shortage on Pakistan’s Environment
With time, the energy crunch of Pakistan also has an environmental side of the coin as well. The excessive utilization of fossil energy sources burdens not only the economy but also pollutes and increases carbon production. The IEA reported that carbon emissions in Pakistan have risen to more than 123 percent from the 2000 level mainly because of excessive power generation from coal and oil. These emissions could be greatly decreased if Pakistan were to shift towards renewable energy sources, which can bring the country on par with global environmental targets.
Analyzing the Solutions to the Energy Crisis in Pakistan
Expansion of the Facility of Renewable Energy
The development of renewable energy generation especially through solar and wind can provide Pakistan an opportunity to cut their imports. Civilizations similar to Morocco have grown to capture a large portion of solar energy, with projects like the Noor Solar Complex with a capacity of 580 MW of energy. Pakistan also could implement similar large-scale projects as few other nations for effective tapping of solar energy.
Enhancing the Transmission and Distribution Networks
To avoid such losses, Pakistan has to work on upgrading the grid services to improve efficiency on its side. This includes congratulation of the existing transmission; getting rid of theft by use of smart meters, and establishment of regional networks to improve the distribution. Countries such as Turkey have successfully implemented such measures to minimize these losses and Pakistan can use this case for emulation.
Consolidation of Policy and Governance Reforms
Thus, policy reform is essential. Pakistan can follow the examples of countries like Bangladesh that made energy sector reforms and initiated attractive conditions for foreign investors to establish supply stability. The Lutheran policy recommends harping on transparent regulation to minimize bureaucracy, on top of the establishment of an independent body charged with the coordination of energy projects.
Promoting Energy Efficiency
Energy conservation can be applied as a short-term strategy to relieve pressure off the demand-supply imbalanced equation. That is why advertising campaigns for energy-consuming appliances, LED light sources, and thoughtful consumption of electricity are so effective. For instance, the “Cool Biz” in Japan helped cut electricity consumption in the period when electricity demand was the most costly, and Pakistan could also develop such a program.
Utilizing New Dams to Construct Hydropower Capacity
Other new dams and reservoirs including the Diamer Bhasha Dam could thus develop and generate both irrigation and hydropower. Such projects as these are capital-intensive and time-consuming but would ensure energy output and boost agricultural production. If water consumer policies are well implemented, then water can be, a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of energy, for Pakistan through hydropower resources.
Government Efforts and CPEC Contribution
Among all the Asian countries, Pakistan has been more active in focusing on the energy problem, thanks to the CPEC. CPEC projects include many coal and hydro projects that contributed about 5,000 MW through Sahiwal Coal Power Plant and Karot Hydropower Project. However, the CPEC mainly aims at coal-based power plant projects that have been criticized for environmental issues. An implementation of new generation CPEC mainly energy projects based on renewable energy like wind and solar may suggest a better solution.
Case Studies on Addressing the Energy Crisis
So, it is high time to take a look at five examples of countries that address energy issues and promote sustainable energy solutions. These examples illustrate various approaches that Pakistan could follow to solve the energy problem there.
1. Morocco’s Solar Power Transformation
Background: Morocco, a country in North Africa has in the past struggled with energy/network challenges because of its dependence on imported fossil fuels. Control over this decision Morocco could invest a great amount of money in conquering the energy shortage problem through the utilization of solar energy due to the sunny climate.
Solution
Morocco’s most popular project is the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, which is among the biggest solar power plants on the planet. This enormous project started in 2016 and is in the Sahara desert; when finished it will generate more than 580MW of solar power. The project under consideration uses CSP technology which enables the plant to store energy products and at the same time produce electricity during night time.
Results
And how has Morocco transformed with investment in solar energy? Noor Ouarzazate itself has made clean energy available to more than one million households thus lowering the kingdom’s emissions and use of fossil fuel. Morocco had been able to provide over 30% of its domestic power demand from renewable sources with key influence from solar energy by the year 2020. As a result of this project Morocco was rated among the international countries that have embraced the use of solar power.
Implications for Pakistan
Like Morocco, Pakistan which is also endowed with vast solar resources, especially in its provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan can also move into big power projects on solar energy. It would only assist in cutting the reliance on fossil energy sources while at the same time providing an opportunity to establish the right energy resources for the country.
Germany’s Energiewende
Background: “Energiewende”, the energy transformation of Germany, is probably one of the broadest and deepest shifts from fossil fuel-based energy. This is why, after the Chornobyl nuclear catastrophe in 2011, Germany voluntarily left nuclear power and launched a program aimed at turning to renewables.
Solution:
Energiewende consists of many environmental policies and investments for enhancing renewable energy share in the capacity, energy efficiency and further reducing carbon emissions. The installed capacity of renewable energy in Germany crossed over 50 percent of the total electricity capacity by 2020.
Technological advancements in utilizing these renewable energies including solar, wind, and biomass are the major producers of this.
The government promoted the generation of renewable energy by subsidizing the resources, offering tax credits, as well as providing attractive feed-in tariffs for the private actors to participate in the generation of renewable energy.
Results
Today the market of renewable energy sources in Germany offers 50-60% of the total electricity, the share of wind power in which is over 25%. The transition also offsets the country’s reliance on fossil energy and also has plus impacts on employment creation in new forms of energy. Furthermore, through the Paris Agreement and the targets for the country to be carbon neutral by 2050, it has been disclosed, that lower CO2 emissions through current effective policies via current successful policies.
Implications for Pakistan
Likewise, Pakistan may also formulate a policy to have renewable energy in its energy policies of the Pakistan. Such a policy could be of great need for Pakistan because wind and solar energy maximum output could assist Pakistan to have the least reliance on imported electric power to foster sustainable development.
3. India’s Renewable Energy Growth
Background
Similar to Pakistan, India has suffered from chronic energy crises because of its increasing population and growing economy. Though the Indian energy source majorly depends on coal and oil, much effort has been made to include renewable energy such as solar and wind.
Solution
The Indian government with its historic announcement made in 2015 has planned to install 175 GW of renewable power capacity by the year 2022. These consist of 100GW in solar power and 60GW in wind power technologies. India has been incredibly successful with its solar plan and large-scale solar parks are being constructed in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Further, the country has provided policies including tax credits in the renewable power sector, the solar rooftop program, and active bidding for the solar and wind business.
Results
India had already crossed the renewable energy target of the country by 2023, where 200 GW of renewable capacity of which 100 GW of Solar and 40 GW of wind power. Today it is the third-largest producer of renewable energy in the world and the fourth-largest producer of solar power. The development of renewable resources has not only helped India meet its energy demand but also brought about employment and low cost of power generation.
Implications for Pakistan
Hence Pakistan, being gifted with solar and wind resources, could seek help for this from India which has formulated some of the progressive policies in this context. Thus, by copying these policies and goals, Pakistan could quickly increase the use of renewable energy sources meeting both internal needs and contributing to global climate change mitigation.
4. China’s Green Energy Investments
Background: Indeed, the country with the largest absolute emission of greenhouse gases must make considerable efforts to change the energy model. To reduce carbon emissions and at the same time work towards energy security China has been investing in renewable energy.
Solution
Today China is the biggest producer of solar and hydropower energy in the entire world. In 2009, it began the world’s largest solar capacity installation project, and by 2020, it had become the largest solar panel-producing nation that also boosted domestic solar installations quickly. Apart from solar, China has cumulatively engaged itself in numerous large-scale hydropower projects including the Three Gorges Dam which is still the record largest hydropower station all over the world.
Results
Efforts by China in particular have been pegged as having driven down the cost of produced solar electricity by 30% to that of relatively traditional coal products. It is now the global leader with more than 1 000 GW of installed renewable power-generating capacity of which 206GW is wind power. As for the goal to make 50% of the energy consumed in China come from clean sources, by 2025.
Implications for Pakistan
Pakistan has something to learn from China’s war-like situation for domination in both solar and hydropower undertakings. With Diamer Bhasha Dam and other large-scale hydel power projects in the pipeline along with Solar power Pakistan could avoid major energy deficiency and at the same time greatly reduce its carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Therefore, the energy crisis in Pakistan essay in Urdu language has pointed out the various prevalent issues related to the energy crisis and its influence on the country’s economy, society, and environment. This crisis’s origins are political, insufficient development of renewable energy sources, the relevance of outdated infrastructure, and high dependence on oil. Because the energy demand is increasing day by day in Pakistan, it has become an obvious reality that without economic reforms, the country will lose energy, and economic and social issues will remain the same.
FAQs
Q1: What do you think is the root cause of the energy crisis in Pakistan?
The energy crisis or scarcity of electricity in Pakistan can be attributed to issues such as electricity generation, transformation, and distribution infrastructure being relatively old in Pakistan.
Q2: What is the current requirement for energy in Pakistan and how much is it lacking?
Currently, Pakistan’s energy requirement stands at over 25000 MW however the existing capacity of energy that it produces is only around 20000MW hence the difference leads to continued blackouts in the country.
Q3: What renewable energy sources are available for Pakistan?
Like many other countries, Pakistan has abundant potential to produce solar, wind, and hydroelectricity. Some of these sources may be used to minimize the usage of fossil-based energy hence making it possible to attain sustainable energy forms in society.
Q4: What must the government do to solve the energy crisis?
The crisis can be dealt with through investment in renewable energy, infrastructural development, reduction in energy losses, and energy efficiency and conservation policies.
Q5: To what extent can the private sector contribute to solving the energy crisis?
The role that the private sector could play is linked with investment in new renewable energy resources, enhancement of the efficiency of power usage, and backing of new and efficient energy infrastructure.
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