Senator Sherry Rehman Calls for Urgent Action on Pakistan’s Untapped Hydropower Potential
Senator Sherry Rehman Calls for Urgent Action on Pakistan’s Untapped Hydropower Potential
Senator Sherry Rehman gave the opening speech at the 4th International Hydropower Conference. She stressed the importance of Pakistan’s quickly using its hydropower potential and switching to green energy to ensure a stable and long-lasting future. Because Pakistan has many serious energy problems, like climate change and population growth, Senator Rehman stressed the importance of hydropower to the country’s energy shift.
“Energy is not just power; it is wealth, stability, and the foundation of modern civilization,” said Rehman. “Pakistan, which has the fifth most people in the world, can’t grow in a way that is sustainable without a reliable, affordable, and long-term energy supply.” Unfortunately, we still need to import a lot of energy, and the rising costs and supply chain problems caused by wars are worsening our energy situation. Senator Rehman brought up Pakistan’s dedication to fighting climate change by mentioning its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, which states that by 2030, 60% of energy will come from green sources. She talked about how the country already gets more than 55% of its electricity from clean sources, like nuclear and water. More money should be put into smaller and medium-sized dams, which she called “the path to a sustainable hydropower future.”
Senator Rehman painted a harsh picture of Pakistan’s climate problems, such as its unpredictable monsoons, lack of water, and reliance on glacier melt from the Indus River system. She said, “The 2022 monsoons were on a scale that had never been seen before. They pushed people and institutions to their limits.” Disasters caused by climate change have taught us a lot, but we need to do more to focus on clean, green energy sources and lessen our reliance on fossil fuels.
“By 2025, Pakistan is projected to be water-scarce, with reliance on glacial melt proving increasingly unreliable,” Senator Rehman said, describing a future marked by lack. Tarbela, Mangla, and other big dams that helped our growth in the past are now at risk of silting up and losing their power.
Sen. Rehman pointed out that Pakistan has a capacity of 64 GW but only uses 10,852 MW of its electricity potential. “This is a colossal, missed opportunity,” she told me. We can get more energy from smaller dams in a more stable, cost-effective, and long-lasting way, especially for farm and livestock economies. We need to turn our attention to the north, where there is a lot of untapped electricity potential.
She also said that infrastructure, especially the power systems, must be improved immediately. “Pakistan’s grid is old, has holes in it, and can’t quickly let go of renewable energy.” Updating our grid is necessary to get the most out of hydropower and other green energy sources.
Senator Rehman told Pakistan it should follow the world’s energy trends, pointing out that places like China and Europe are quickly switching to green energy. But she also warned against getting too comfortable. “Global warming is still worsening because fossil fuel emissions are increasing.” The 1.5°C goal agreed upon in Paris is no longer relevant as the world warms by 3°C.
In her closing remarks, Senator Rehman asked local governments, communities, and foreign stakeholders to work together to financially close down renewable energy projects. “Energy security is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of life and death for the whole country.” To decarbonize our future and ensure long-term growth for future generations, Pakistan needs to invest more in smaller dams, modern grids, and green energy pathways.
Pakistan Prepares for Foreign Policy Challenges in 2025 with Trump in the Picture
umer
2 thoughts on “Senator Sherry Rehman Calls for Urgent Action on Pakistan’s Untapped Hydropower Potential”