KARACHI: A small village in southern Pakistan, where light after sunset was once a rare luxury, now glows with steady electricity generated by wind power. Jhimpir, a town once overlooked, now stands as a beacon of renewable energy, thanks to collaboration between the United States and Pakistan. This transformation is part of a series of clean energy initiatives led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reshaping Pakistan’s power grid and advancing its climate resilience goals, according to a USAID official.
With Pakistan among the nations most affected by climate change, the need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is urgent. USAID’s efforts have been instrumental in this shift, modernising critical infrastructure and promoting innovative energy solutions across the country. The official said they upgraded the Tarbela and Mangla dams, enhancing their efficiency to meet growing energy demands.
At Tarbela, improvements in turbines and systems added 128 megawatts of electricity to the grid. Mangla Dam also received significant investments, extending its lifespan and reducing dependency on imported fuels. These upgrades not only strengthened Pakistan’s hydropower capacity but also contributed to its clean energy goals.
In the tribal regions near the Afghan border, USAID’s work on the Gomal Zam Dam provided 17.4 megawatts of electricity while transforming local agriculture. The dam’s capacity to control floods and irrigate tho.
