Pakistan is among the few developing countries with an “on track” status for SDG 13, reflecting progress in climate change mitigation. Initiatives such as the “Clean and Green Pakistan,” “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami,” and “Recharge Pakistan” highlight the country’s proactive stance. Yet, despite these efforts, Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to climate change, ranking 31st in the 2024 Climate Change Performers Index(CCPI), with mixed scores, strong in emission control and energy use, but weak in renewable energy adoption and policy frameworks.
Energy efficiency has long been on Pakistan’s agenda, dating back to Enercon’s creation in 1987. While early efforts raised awareness and built expertise, tangible outcomes remained limited. The 2016 National Efficiency and Conservation Act marked a structural shift by establishing NEECA, followed by a 2020-2023 strategy. However, progress has lagged, highlighting the need for a prioritized, outcome-oriented road map.
This energy is amplified by Pakistan’s ongoing energy crisis. There are currently 56 million (roughly) people without access to grid electricity, and Pakistan ranks 115th out of 137 economies with unstable energy sources. As a result, firms lost $8.4 billion. By linking all of Pakistan’s inhabitants to the grid, energy could be delivered around the clock, increasing household income by at least $4.5 billion per year and ultimately raising national productivity.
Climate change affects men and women differently. Yet, Gender Considerations have often been sidelined. With support from the Green Climate Fund and ICUN, Pakistan launched its first Climate Change Gender Action Plan (ccGAP), aiming to integrate gender equality into climate leadership, policy design, and program implementation. Women often responsible for managing household energy and natural resources must be recognized as central stakeholders in renewable energy and climate resilience. According to the HerEnergy research, gender inequality in Pakistan’s energy sector remains stubbornly high, with women accounting for only 4% of technical jobs. According to a poll of Pakistani energy specialists, men dominated field and technical jobs, while many women were assigned to “soft” office posts. Although women hold less than 12% of key roles in Pakistan’s energy sector.
According to a baseline survey conducted in 2018 by the Women in Energy Network of Pakistan, only over 4% of employees in Pakistan’s nine power utilities, both public and commercial distribution, transmission, and generation companies, are women. Women make up only 4% of all engineers hired, but they account for 25% of all enrolled students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Only 3% of technical positions at the three Independent Power Producers are filled by women. Women make up around 6% of WAPDA’s workforce, however, only 3.3% of technical positions are occupied by women. Women make up only 2% of the employees in power distribution companies.
Even though women account for 49% of the population in a country of 220 million people, their labor force participation has fallen by 2% since 2015. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ 2018 Labor Force Survey (LFS), men had an LFPR of 81%, which is more than three and a half times higher than women’s (23%). Pakistan has one of the world’s greatest gender gaps in terms of labor force participation (LFPR).
The Climate Change Gender Action Plan’s purpose is to strengthen the plan’s efficacy by encouraging gender parity in climate change leadership and decision-making. The significance of increasing climate-related resources that incorporate gender considerations and represent women’s demands. The six priority sectors of energy and transportation, integrated coastal management, disaster risk reduction, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and forests and biodiversity emphasize the importance of increasing climate-related resources that integrate gender priorities and reflect the needs of women and girls.
As the majority of energy consumers and generators, women should not be considered a separate interest group in the renewable energy sector. Without their support, renewable energy projects are more likely to become unsuitable and fail. There is still much work to be done. An economic framework that accounts for human energy and health externalities, for example, might considerably promote women’s participation in the energy market. More specific case studies on the outcomes of including or not including women in renewable energy efforts would be very beneficial in convincing policymakers and practitioners, as well as for training purposes. Those directly involved in the implementation and monitoring of impacts and benefits can benefit from the typical practice of disaggregating data by gender in all renewable projects (gender analysis) right away.
Pakistan’s climate journey is a blend of commendable initiatives and persistent gaps. Institutional reforms, policy commitment, and international partnership provide a strong foundation. However, without a concrete, prioritized EE&C plan and gender-inclusive strategies, these efforts risk falling short. Empowering women as agents of change in energy, conservation, and climate resilience is not just equitable, it is essential to sustainable progress.