The floods of 2010 had also been declared unprecedented, with one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area being affected. After a decade, it is now being recorded as one-third of the total land being submerged in flood water. A little exploration reveals that by 2021, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, the region bearing the first onslaught of monsoon rains, forest cover was reduced by 63.2 ha. This is equivalent to 23.5 kt of CO2 emissions: a big figure by all parameters. The northern region is mostly devoid of natural gas, hence forest wood is predominantly used as fuel for lighting, heating, and cooking. Could this have been averted or at least slowed down? A resounding yes, indeed.
2010 was also the year that saw the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) Act, with one of its functions “to facilitate energy generation through alternate and renewable energy means” – almost seven years after the formation of AEDB in 2003. The government has subsequently set more ambitious targets in the recently formulated ARE Policy (Alternative & Renewable Energy) 2019. This time, the objective is at least 20% of its generation capacity as ARE technologies by 2025 and 30% by 2030. On the other hand, the government’s own report, the Economic Survey of Pakistan for 2020-21, indicates a reduction in the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 2.23% from 2.41% in 2020. Clearly, there are more than mere ambitions that are needed to turn the wheel.
Adopting the ARE technologies is no more an option for Pakistan: it is a necessity. The use of renewable energy is one action that contributes to at least five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notwithstanding, achieving the SDGs is now more of a local compulsion rather than an international obligation. SDGs support and facilitate the lives of people. Domestic/small-scale solar systems can go a long way in addressing the climate change concerns of Pakistan. The world has long recognised that together climate change and fossil fuel burning form a vicious circle. In Pakistan, it has multifarious effects: climate change has led to earlier and faster melting of glaciers, increased temperatures have led to greater air-conditioning requirements, and hence higher power generation through thermal power plants. In the absence of any alternative for cooking and heating, deforestation increases – which has given further rise to warmer weather. So essentially, Pakistan is sawing off the branch on which it is sitting.
It's high time that we put an end to deforestation and provide renewable energy alternatives. Deforestation facilitates landsliding and is a major cause of the flash flooding that Pakistan has recently experienced. So, the provision of an alternative to wood burning for daily energy requirements would help the people and the government in their fight against climate change. Not only solar but small wind projects can go a long way in addressing the energy needs of these non-grid-connected population centres. Small solar systems can easily provide for domestic heating, lighting, and cooking purposes. Rural areas afar, our urban areas are also energy deficient. The federal capital is experiencing almost 3-4 hours of power shutdowns despite having over-the-capacity power generation in the form of independent power producers (IPPs).
The flip side has a completely different story. The government has announced mega solar projects of 10,000 MW. However, solar panels, considered a luxury by many in the government, face import barriers. Ever since the government began feeling the dollar crunch, a ban was imposed on imported items. While cat and dog food (easily available in Pakistan) subsequently have import approval, the solar power equipment is lying at the ports, incurring heavy demurrage costs for the importers. As a result, solar power companies and installers are bearing the brunt. This is besides the environmental demurrage that the country is going to face for flawed or delayed decision. Logically, all the solar projects under installation or in the pipeline are in the doldrums; eventually shifting the load to the national grid.
Another important thing that needs the government’s attention is a well-thought-out policy rather than the rhetoric of mega projects aimed at bringing greater visibility of performance. In this context, tapping all sorts of available renewable energy resources in parallel is necessary. Secondly, mega projects without a doubt have a clear impact, but the investment and construction time of these projects should be a major consideration when deciding on the fate of smaller projects. Smaller systems created in parallel can have far-reaching effects on overall power generation and consumption, without fearing climate change. Wastage and theft issues of the existing transmission system are enough reason for advocating small renewable energy technologies be it solar, wind, hydro or any other. Thirdly the glaring ineptness of those concerned in negotiating a fair deal from the international suppliers for the public good strengthens the perception that the power generated by mega solar projects would also be expensive – for obvious reasons.
Finally, the government has been financing a multitude of organisations and institutes pertaining to energy for more than half a century. However, no solar panel or micro wind turbine has so far been seen with a Pakistani label. A need, therefore, exists like never before for a coordinated effort for local production of solar panels and wind/hydel turbines.
Failing now would be synonymous with a non-luminous sun, as, despite all the potential for solar energy, it remained untapped – and Pakistanis still have to look abroad and subsequently toward the State Bank for energy needs.