Pakistan needs $188 billion to achieve its clean energy goals by 2035, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said, calling on international partners to provide financial support and affordable technology.
Addressing a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkiye, the prime minister presented Pakistan’s roadmap for shifting towards cleaner energy sources.
Speaking at a session titled ‘Transition to Green Energy by 2035: Powering the Future’, Shehbaz stressed that developing countries need greater international support to meet their climate commitments.
He said clean energy sources now account for around 55 per cent of Pakistan’s overall energy mix. He also referred to the recent inauguration of a major component of the country’s seventh nuclear power plant, which is expected to add 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s plans to promote electric vehicles under its recently introduced auto policy. The government aims to convert 30 per cent of new vehicle sales to electric vehicles by 2030, supported by incentives, including lower tariffs.
He said the government also planned to purchase electric buses and motorcycles in the future. More than one in every 10 motorcycles sold in Pakistan this year is already electric, he added.
Explaining the country’s financial requirements, Shehbaz said Pakistan needed around $138 billion for low-carbon power generation projects by 2035. Another $50 billion would be required to replace coal-fired power generation with solar energy.
He said the country also needed substantial investment to expand its electricity transmission network, develop reliable energy storage systems and introduce modern technologies.
Given Pakistan’s economic challenges and mounting debt, the government could not meet these costs on its own, he added.
The prime minister urged international partners to provide financial assistance on concessional terms and make modern technology more affordable for developing countries.
He said Pakistan’s clean energy ambitions could only be achieved through access to low-cost financing, technology transfer and collective international efforts.
Shehbaz stressed that the target of increasing clean energy to 35 per cent by 2035 would require timely financial support and affordable technology.
He also called for a global development model that balances economic growth with environmental protection.
Countries must have the opportunity to meet their people’s energy needs and strengthen their economies without damaging the planet, he said.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the clean energy transition, stressing that climate pledges must translate into practical action and meaningful results.
