President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing low-carbon development pathways while protecting economic growth and social well-being, emphasizing that clean energy lies at the heart of the country’s climate and development agenda.
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In a message on the observance of the International Day of Clean Energy on January 26, the president said the day highlights the central role of clean, affordable and sustainable energy in inclusive development, energy security and the global response to climate change.
He noted that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. For this reason, he said, the government has prioritized the transition to clean energy. Quoted by the President Secretariat Media Wing, President Zardari stated that under Pakistan’s commitments to the UNFCCC, as reflected in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 2025, the country has set a target of 30 percent electric vehicles by 2030.
The president also drew attention to the growing challenge of air pollution, calling it a harsh and recurring reality for citizens. He said dense smog and fog each year result in serious traffic accidents, flight cancellations, disruption of train services and motorway closures. Schools are forced to shut, businesses suffer losses, and hospitals receive patients struggling to breathe clean air, underscoring the deep social and economic cost of polluted air.
President Zardari further noted that Pakistan’s energy mix already includes 35 percent clean and renewable energy. To advance Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13, he said the government is prioritizing energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable resource management.
He added that the transition is being supported through policy reforms, modernization of energy infrastructure, deployment of renewable technologies and stronger institutional coordination. The shift to clean energy, he said, is not only an environmental necessity but also an opportunity for economic growth, job creation and technological progress.
By promoting innovation, mobilizing investment and strengthening institutional capacity, the president said Pakistan aims to build an energy system that is reliable, affordable, resilient and sustainable for all citizens.
He urged renewed resolve to build a climate-resilient, low-carbon and energy-secure Pakistan, while also contributing as a responsible global partner to the development and adoption of technologies that protect the planet.
