From April 2025 through March 2026, almost two-thirds of Pakistan’s electricity came from low-carbon sources, while just over a third came from fossil fuels. Solar and hydropower each supplied about 24%, together accounting for almost half of electricity consumption. Nuclear contributed another 13%, and wind about 3%. Among fossil sources, gas supplied roughly 19% and coal 17%. Pakistan therefore has a strong clean-electricity foundation, although fossil generation still contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Pakistan?

Pakistan’s electricity consumption per person is not yet back to its historical peak. The latest 2026 figure is about 660 kWh per person, roughly 67 kWh—or 9%—below the 2023 record of 728 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, has reached a new high of about 424 kWh per person, around 14 kWh above the previous record set in 2025. This clean-electricity growth is encouraging, but the shortfall in overall consumption is concerning: Pakistan needs more electricity to support development, electrification, and growing demand from technologies such as AI.

Suggestions

Pakistan should build on its substantial existing solar and nuclear generation by expanding both, alongside grid investment and additional wind capacity. The US state of Nevada, where solar supplies 35% of electricity, offers a useful example for a country with strong sunshine. France and Slovakia demonstrate how nuclear can provide a large clean-electricity foundation, supplying about two-thirds of electricity in each; South Korea, at 25% nuclear, also offers relevant experience in developing a substantial nuclear sector. For wind, Morocco’s approximately 20% share provides a useful reference for developing promising wind resources. Pakistan can learn from these regions’ experience with sustained deployment, infrastructure planning, and integrating growing volumes of low-carbon electricity.

History

Pakistan’s low-carbon electricity history initially centred on hydropower, with gains of roughly 3 TWh in both 1992 and 1994, followed by a similar-sized decline in 1999. The early 2000s brought hydro increases of about 3–5 TWh in 2002, 2003, and 2005, although subsequent years saw fluctuating output. Hydro rose nearly 10 TWh in 2018 and another 5.5 TWh in 2025. Nuclear added about 3 TWh in 2017, followed by major increases of roughly 6 TWh in 2021 and 6.5 TWh in 2022. More recently, solar has become a powerful driver of clean-electricity growth, adding about 4 TWh in 2023, 9 TWh in 2024, 18 TWh in 2025, and another 4 TWh in 2026.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.