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Abstract Pakistan is facing electricity crises owing to lack of integrated energy planning, reliance on imported fuels for power generation, and poor governance. This situation has challenged governments for over a decade to address these crises. However, despite various conformist planning and policy initiatives, the balance between demand and supply of electricity is yet to be achieved. In this study, Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) is used to develop Pakistan's LEAP modeling framework for the period 2015–2050. Following demand forecast, four supply side scenarios; Reference (REF), Renewable Energy Technologies (RET), Clean Coal Maximum (CCM) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) are enacted considering resource potential, techno-economic parameters, and CO 2 emissions. The model results estimate the demand forecast of 1706.3 TWh in 2050, at an annual average growth rate of 8.35%, which is 19 times higher than the base year demand. On the supply side, RET scenario, although capital-intensive earlier in the modeling period, is found to be the sustainable electricity generation path followed by EEC scenario with the lower demand of 1373.2 TWh and minimum Net Present Value (NPV) at an aggregate discount rate of 6%. Conclusion section of the paper provides the recommendations devised from this study results. Highlights • Pakistan's electricity system modeled for the period of 2015–2050 using LEAP tool. • Electricity demand for Pakistan in 2050 has been forecasted as 1706 TWh • Energy efficiency & conservation scenario decreases 20% of electricity demand by 2050. • Four supply side scenarios developed to meet both of these forecasted demands. • Role of energy efficiency improvement & renewable energy integration is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is facing severe electricity supply shortages, causing forced power outages over the last decade ranging from 8 to 12 h a day in urban areas and up to 18 h in rural areas. The major causes behind the increasing gap between supply and demand are mainly increases in electricity demand on one hand, and depleting energy resources and financial constraints on the other. In this context the government has been taking various measures, including a partial restructuring of the electricity sector under guidelines from international financing institutes. At present, the country is, therefore, not only facing a serious challenge of meeting the electricity demand but is also facing the challenge of ensuring energy security in the context of globally important climate change issues. The role of policy makers at this stage is crucial for not only assessing and reviewing the current strategies to minimize the electricity supply and demand gap, but also the need to develop future strategies, ensuring affordable electricity with efficient generation, transmission and distribution towards sustainable development in the country. This paper provides a review of the current energy situation, discussion on policy drivers and plans, analysis of the issues of the power sector as well as recommendations for narrowing the electricity supply-demand gap towards sustainable electricity for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the electricity production from different sources in Pakistan, and the contribution of these sources to economic growth. An ADF (Augmented Dickey-Fuller) unit root test was used to check the variables stationarity, while an ARDL bounds testing approach was used to check the long-term relationship among the study variables. Results illustrate that electricity produced from coal, hydropower, natural gas and nuclear sources has a significant influence on the economic growth of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]