Electricity sector in Pakistan

Electricity in Pakistan () is generated, transmitted, distributed, and retail supplied by two vertically integrated public sector utilities: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for all of Pakistan (except Karachi), and the Karachi Electric (K-Electric) for the city of Karachi and its surrounding areas. There are around 42 independent power producers (IPPs) that contribute significantly in electricity generation in Pakistan.

History
Pakistan electricity sector is a developing market. For years, the matter of balancing the country's supply against the demand for electricity had remained a largely unresolved matter. The country faced significant challenges in revamping its network responsible for the supply of electricity. Electricity generators were seeking a parity in returns for both domestic and foreign investors indicating it to be one of the key issues in overseeing a surge in electricity generation when the country was facing growing shortages. Other problems included lack of efficiency, rising demands for energy, and political instability. Provincial and federal agencies, who are the largest consumers, often do not pay their bills. At one point electricity generation had shrunk by up to 50% due to an over-reliance on fossil fuels. The country was hit by its worst power crisis in 2007 when production fell by 6000 Megawatts and massive blackouts followed suit. Load Shedding and power blackouts had become severe in Pakistan before 2016.

Economic Survey 2017-18 unfolds that Pakistan's installed capacity to generate electricity has surged up to 29,573MW by February 2018 which stood at 22,812MW in June 2013, showing the growth of 30 percent.

Installed capacity
Pakistan's installed capacity to generate electricity has surged up to 33,836 MW by February 2019 which stood at 23,337 MW in 2014, showing the growth of 45 percent in five years.

Electricity Concerns 
Although Pakistan has reduced blackouts and increased electricity production significantly, blackouts are still common, and the price of electricity has still increased. Recent tariff have contributed to this increase in prices.

Thermal

Natural Gas

Coal

Hydroelectricity 
Pakistan produced 8250 MW of hydropower in 2018 and by 2040, when under construction hydropower projects are completed, this will increase to 29000 MW.

Nuclear

Wind Power

Solar Power

Electricity generation
Electricity – generation: 148.25 GWh (2019)
Electricity – generation by source (2019)
Furnace oil: 14% of total
Natural gas: 31% of total
Coal: 16% of total
Hydroelectric: 29% of total
Nuclear: 4% of total
Renewable (Solar & Wind) : 5% of total
 Others(Bagasse, Waste Heat Recovery etc.) : 1% of total

Electricity consumption
Electricity – consumption: 90.36 GWh (2015-2016)
Electricity – exports: 6.01% (2015-2016)
Electricity – imports: .49% (2015-2016)
Electricity Consumption per Capita  =  971 kWh/Capita (2015-2016)

Governance and sector reform
Recent reforms include the unbundling and corporatization of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) into 10 regional distribution companies, 4 government-owned thermal power
generation companies and a transmission company, the National Transmission and Despatch Company. The hydropower plants were retained by WAPDA as WAPDA Hydroelectric. All are
fully owned by the government. K-Electric Limited (formally known as Karachi Electric Supply Company), which is responsible for power generation and distribution in the Karachi area, is
listed on the stock exchanges and is privately owned. Privately owned independent power producers generated 53% of the country's power in FY2016.

Effects of natural and man-made disasters
During 2010 Pakistan floods and 2005 Kashmir earthquake power stations, power distribution and transmission and other energy infrastructures were damaged. During the floods and rainfalls the recently constructed Jinnah hydroelectric power plant was flooded in addition to severe damages to transmission and distribution network and installations while several power plants and refineries were threatened by rising waters and had to be shut down. Natural gas field output had to be reduced as the flood waters approached the wells. There has also been some concern by Pakistani nuclear activists over the effect of natural disasters on nuclear plants specially over the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, since the plant lies over a geological fault.
Due to over reliance of Pakistan on dams for electricity generation, some environmental impacts of dams such as submergence of usable/ecological land and their negative impact on Pakistan's mangrove forests due to loss of river silt load, as well as increased risk of severe floods have become evident.

See also

 List of power stations in Pakistan
 List of electric supply companies in Pakistan
 Water and Power Development Authority
 Economy of Pakistan
 Private Power and Infrastructure Board
 Pakistan Electric Power Company
 Alternative Energy Development Board
 National Electric Power Regulatory Authority
 Karachi Electric Supply Company
 Pakistan national energy policy
 Rolling blackout

References

Further reading
 Robert M. Hathaway, editor, and Michael Kugelman, editor, Powering Pakistan, Oxford University Press, USA (15 January 2010), hardcover, 216 pages