RENEWABLE ENERGY AS POLITICAL STRATEGY: PROVINCIAL VARIATION IN ENERGY TRANSITIONS UNDER COMPETING PARTY GOVERNMENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This paper explores how the political parties influence the formation of renewable-energy policies and trends in Pakistan at the provincial level, which sheds light on the nexus between the politics of strategy and energy transitions at the subnational level. Regardless of increasing power dilemma in Pakistan and global climate policies, the application of renewable energy is still decentralized among provinces. The current study adopts the methodology of the qualitative comparative case study in comparing Punjab under the PMLN government, Sindh under the PPP and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the PTI and then executing basing on the party manifestos, provincial energy policy plans, project archives and open-ended interviews with the stakeholders. The results suggest that the renewable energy is not only a technical, or an environmental policy tool, but also a political tool, which is employed as a branding, electoral legitimacy and international signaling tool. The provincial performance varies as a result of the different political interests, institutional capacity, and the governance structure: Punjab focuses on macro-infrastructure projects to demonstrate the conspicuous benefits of politics; Sindh relies on the contribution of donor-driven providers with minimal provincial ownership; and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa previews the vision of decentralized renewed initiatives that support the reformist politics. The research adds value to the literature by learning that subnational level energy transitions in developing federations are a politically mediated process and that cross-party agreement, institutionalized persistence and stronger regulatory platforms are needed to achieve sustainable energy transitions.