Shehbaz backs global 35-by-35 electrification pledge

ANTALYA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the global 35-by-35 Electrification Pledge, stressing that achieving the target will require international cooperation, affordable technology and substantial financial support.

Addressing a high-level meeting titled “Clean Energy Transition by 2035: Powering the Future” in Antalya, Türkiye, the prime minister said Pakistan had made significant progress in shifting towards cleaner energy over the past two years.

He highlighted the rapid expansion of rooftop solar power, saying the country had added nearly 22 gigawatts of solar capacity during this period. He described the development as a major transformation driven by households seeking affordable electricity and a more reliable energy supply.

Shehbaz also referred to the inauguration of a key section of Pakistan’s seventh nuclear power plant ahead of his departure for Türkiye. The project is expected to contribute 1,200 megawatts of clean electricity to the national grid.

He said renewable and other clean energy sources now accounted for nearly 55 per cent of Pakistan’s overall energy mix.

The prime minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to transform the transport sector through its recently introduced automobile policy. Pakistan aims to ensure that electric vehicles account for 30 per cent of new vehicle sales by 2030.

He said the government was offering incentives, including reduced tariffs, to encourage electric vehicle adoption. All future government buses and motorcycles would also be electric-powered.

Shehbaz noted that electric motorcycles were gaining popularity, with more than 10 per cent of motorcycles sold in Pakistan this year being electric.

However, he warned that maintaining the pace of the clean energy transition would require substantial investment. He stressed the need to expand electricity transmission networks, improve energy storage facilities and make modern technologies accessible and affordable.

The prime minister pointed out that developing countries already facing significant debt pressures could struggle to finance such ambitious transitions without international assistance.

He estimated that Pakistan would need around $138 billion by 2035 to develop low-carbon electricity generation capacity. An additional $50 billion would be required to replace coal-based power generation with solar energy.

Calling for greater financial cooperation, Shehbaz said the global electrification target could only be achieved if international commitments were backed by concessional financing and the transfer of affordable technologies.

He urged world leaders to work together towards cleaner economies, emphasising that the energy transition should improve people’s lives without placing an unbearable financial burden on them or damaging the environment.