A consultation meeting titled “Harnessing Clean Energy in Sindh: Opportunities and Challenges” was organised by The Knowledge Forum (TKF) in Karachi on October 18, 2024, bringing together government representatives, civil society activists, media, and stakeholders from the energy sector to reflect on the province’s renewable energy potential and challenges.
The event featured detailed remarks by Mr. Mehfooz Ahmed Qazi, Project Director of the Alternative Energy Directorate, Government of Sindh, who highlighted Sindh’s leadership role in Pakistan’s energy sector and its immense potential for renewable power generation.
Mr. Qazi noted that Sindh possesses a wide array of energy resources, ranging from gas and coal to petroleum, solar, and wind power. Central to his remarks was the vast wind corridor of Jhimpir and Gharo, which carries an estimated potential of 55,000 MW and has already enabled significant electricity generation. He reminded the audience that Sindh has produced 1,845 MW of electricity from wind energy alone, though he acknowledged that neighbouring Gujarat in India has surpassed 4,000 MW. Alongside wind, solar power was identified as another crucial source, with the province also possessing an offshore wind corridor located in the Arabian Sea.
The consultation reviewed ongoing renewable projects, including initiatives supported by the World Bank, such as solar parks, the solarisation of government buildings, and solar electrification schemes for rural communities.
Participants also discussed some of the obstacles confronting renewable energy projects, particularly land acquisition disputes. A major China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project in Jhimpir was cancelled due to fraudulent land documents, raising concerns about transparency. Despite such challenges, Sindh currently has 36 wind projects under installation in Jhimpir and a 50 MW project in Manjhand, though several projects are still awaiting grid connections.
Mr. Niaz Jhanji, Deputy Director of Alternative Energy, provided further context on the evolution of renewable energy policy in Sindh. He explained that following the 18th Amendment, multiple energy-related departments were consolidated into the provincial Energy Department, creating a more streamlined governance structure. He highlighted the introduction of a land grants policy in 2015 and the leasing of 57,000 acres for renewable projects on 30-year terms with escalating rates. He also confirmed the development of two solar projects in Karachi and Sanghar.
In her concluding remarks, TKF Director Zeenia Shaukat welcomed the growing focus on renewables but urged that development must not come at the cost of people’s rights. She cautioned against displacement and inadequate compensation for communities affected by energy projects, insisting that equitable benefits must be central to any transition.
The consultation closed with a strong consensus that Sindh is well placed to lead Pakistan’s renewable energy future. However, achieving this potential requires not only technological innovation and international investment but also transparency, community participation, and a commitment to social justice in the energy transition.
