Comment by Riaz Haq on July 14, 2026 at 8:46am

Electrification in developing countries . By replacing polluting fuels, it prevents respiratory illnesses, while grid access powers reliable refrigeration for clinics and allows children to study after dark. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The profound advantages of electrification extend across several vital pillars of development:

• Public Health and Environment: Access to electricity eliminates the need for kerosene lamps and indoor wood-burning stoves, significantly reducing severe household air pollution and dangerous burn hazards. It also enables 24/7 emergency services, safe vaccine storage, and the operation of water pumps to provide clean, potable drinking water. [1, 2, 3]
• Education and Gender Equality: Electric lighting extends study hours for students, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, it reduces the time women and girls spend gathering traditional, manual fuels (like wood and dung), allowing them to pursue education or formal employment. [1]
• Economic Development: Electrification powers microenterprises, cold storage for farmers, and modern manufacturing. While short-term income gains are often localized, studies on universal access projects (like those modeled by the UNDP Data Futures Exchange) estimate massive long-term GDP growth. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Modern Transportation (E-Mobility): Transitioning to electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and buses in urban centers drastically lowers operating and maintenance costs for low-income commuters compared to traditional internal combustion engines. [1, 2]

Comment by Riaz Haq yesterday

Pakistan's electricity generation mix has rapidly shifted toward renewable energy, driven by a massive distributed solar boom. As of recent 2025–2026 data, grid-connected and behind-the-meter solar accounts for roughly 25-28% of the country's generation. Overall, low-carbon and zero-emission sources now make up over 55% of Pakistan's total generated electricity. [1, 2, 3]

https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/the-solarisation-of-pakist...

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]

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