Pakistan ranks as one of the world’s most polluted countries, with air pollution levels placing it second globally in 2023. This heavy pollution burden significantly affects public health, reducing the average Pakistani's life expectancy by approximately four years. The main contributors include industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and the uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Over time, this pollution trend has worsened, prompting the need for urgent environmental reforms.
Pakistan ranks as one of the world’s most polluted countries, with air pollution levels placing it second globally in 2023. This heavy pollution burden significantly affects public health, reducing the average Pakistani's life expectancy by approximately four years. The main contributors include industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and the uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Over time, this pollution trend has worsened, prompting the need for urgent environmental reforms.
The energy sector is a key contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, responsible for nearly 46 per cent of the country’s total emissions, according to Pakistan’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2021. Emissions stem from various sources, including electricity generation, transportation, and industrial energy use. Most of these emissions arise from fossil fuel combustion, with coal, natural gas, and oil dominating the country’s energy supply.
While Pakistan aims to transition to 60 per cent renewable energy by 2030, the journey has been fraught with challenges. Hydropower projects, a focus of the country’s renewable energy efforts, require long construction periods, delaying their contributions to the national grid. Solar and wind energy projects, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, have expanded, but limitations in transmission infrastructure hinder their full potential. As of now, 36 wind power plants contribute a total installed capacity of 1,838MW, but these plants often operate below their full capacity due to grid constraints.
The Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor, with an estimated wind energy potential of 50,000MW, holds great promise. However, 27 additional wind power projects with a cumulative capacity of 1,875MW are still awaiting approval due to grid limitations. On the solar energy front, net metering has gained popularity among households and businesses, reducing reliance on the national grid while promoting clean energy. Despite these efforts, the country faces significant hurdles in achieving its energy transition targets by 2030.
Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects are emerging as a natural extension of Pakistan’s climate action strategy. These projects address two critical needs: energy generation and waste management. WtE initiatives reduce emissions, enhance resource efficiency, and directly contribute to clean energy goals while improving urban sustainability.
One of the key successes in Pakistan’s WtE strategy has been bagasse-based energy. As one of the world’s largest producers of sugarcane, Pakistan generates large quantities of bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugar extraction. This biomass is used in cogeneration plants at sugar mills, producing both heat and electricity. The bagasse is primarily used during the sugarcane crushing season, and the electricity generated is fed back into the national grid. Currently, the total installed capacity for bagasse-based energy production is estimated to exceed 2,000 MW though only a part of it is supplied to the grid. However, since this energy source is seasonal, more consistent year-round WtE solutions are necessary.
Pakistan’s agricultural sector generates other forms of biomass waste that can also be converted into energy. Waste from wheat straw, rice husks, and cotton stalks has significant potential for energy generation. Pakistan produces about 84 million tons of agricultural residues annually, a large portion of which is burned in open fields, contributing to air pollution. Converting this biomass into energy through biogas facilities or biomass power plants would not only produce power but also reduce environmental degradation. Despite this potential, the total installed capacity of bagasse/biomass energy on the national grid remains limited to 249MW.
In 2019, Pakistan launched the Clean Green Pakistan initiative, aimed at improving waste management, water sanitation, hygiene, and urban afforestation. This initiative encourages citizen participation in environmental protection and seeks to mitigate pollution in urban areas.
Pakistan’s urban population produces around 49.6 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually, a figure that is growing by 2.4 per cent per year. Most of this waste ends up in landfills or open dumps, creating severe environmental and health risks. Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar are the largest contributors to this waste, with Karachi alone generating 16,500 tons of MSW daily, followed by Lahore with 7,690 tons daily.
Globally, Municipal Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a proven technology, and Pakistan has the potential to leverage this method to manage waste and generate clean energy. Converting MSW into energy typically involves incineration, anaerobic digestion, or gasification to produce electricity or biogas. Even processing a portion of the MSW generated annually could significantly contribute to the national energy grid while addressing waste disposal issues. WtE plants can help prevent soil and water contamination and support urban sustainability efforts.
Under the Clean Green Pakistan initiative, the government of Punjab launched the country’s first large-scale WtE project in Lahore. This 40MW plant, designed to process 2,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily, is being developed by a Chinese consortium. Initially planned for completion within two years, the project has faced delays, with commercial operations now rescheduled for 2026. Following this, the provincial government has invited proposals for a second WtE project of similar size in Lahore. The energy thus generated will be supplied to the Lahore region through the national grid.
In Karachi, WtE projects were launched in August 2022 under a public-private partnership model. These projects aim to process between 6,000 and 8,000 tons of waste daily, generating up to 250MW of electricity for supply to K-Electric. Engro Energy, Green Waste Energy, and Khan Renewable Energy are some of the companies leading these efforts, but the projects are still in the feasibility study phase, and challenges persist.
While Pakistan has made significant progress toward its climate goals, particularly in renewable energy and waste management, further efforts are necessary to meet its 2030 climate targets. Setting up WtE projects aligns closely with Pakistan’s broader climate strategy, addressing multiple goals outlined in the country's climate policies and international commitments, including the Paris Agreement. However, scaling up these initiatives and overcoming challenges related to waste management, urban expansion, and industrial emissions are critical to achieving Pakistan’s climate ambitions.
So, waste-to-energy projects are not just a solution for energy generation; they are integral to improving waste management, reducing emissions, and meeting the country's broader environmental and climate objectives. Expanding these initiatives will be essential as Pakistan continues its efforts toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Waste-to-energy projects are not just a solution for energy generation; they are integral to improving waste management, reducing emissions, and meeting the country's broader environmental and climate objectives. Expanding these initiatives will be essential as Pakistan continues its efforts towards a more sustainable future
The writer is a retired chairman of the State Engineering Corporation, and former member (PT) of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
