Energy Crisis & CPEC Projects: A Step towards Sustainable Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan suffers from a severe energy crisis that has been a long-standing issue and has sharply impacted the economic and social development of the country. Thus, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) evolves as a strategic project instrumental to meet the power needs of Pakistan and spur overall growth. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a synthesis of the literature on the role and efficiency of CPEC in tackling energy shortages and the consequent social and economic ramifications. Therefore, the analytical analysis shows that CPEC has helped to reduce energy unavailability and load shedding issues with load shedding reduced by 70 percent in major cities, as indicated by NEPRA. For instance, by looking at the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant case, the impact of increasing generation capacity to overcome energy shortages can be clearly seen. In addition, energy projects under CPEC have provided more than 303,000 direct employment which in turn has a positive impact on the economy and has led to social development of the region. There have been major advancements in health and education facilities due to improved energy access. Hospitals, for instance, recorded reduced cases of power cuts while students could study in a conducive environment. These findings characterize the significance of CPEC role in overcoming Pakistan’s energy problems and promoting socio-economic advancement.