ANTALYA, Türkiye: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has presented Pakistan’s progress on clean energy to world leaders at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), saying that clean sources now account for nearly 55 per cent of the country’s energy mix.
Addressing a high-level session titled “Clean Energy Transition by 2035: Powering the Future” on Wednesday, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the global 35-by-35 Electrification Pledge, which aims to raise electricity’s share of total energy use to around 35 per cent by 2035.
A solar shift led by ordinary citizens
The prime minister highlighted the rapid spread of rooftop solar panels across Pakistan, describing it as a change driven by households and small businesses seeking affordable and reliable electricity. He also told the session that before leaving for Antalya he had inaugurated a key section of Pakistan’s seventh nuclear power plant, which will add 1,200 megawatts of clean electricity to the national grid.
Call for climate finance
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan needs about $138 billion by 2035 for low-carbon power generation, plus a further $50 billion to replace coal-based power with solar energy. He stressed that expanding power grids, building energy storage and making new technology affordable require investment that heavily indebted developing countries cannot carry alone.
The prime minister noted that the clean energy momentum built over the past two years could slow without adequate financing. Pakistan, he said, had shown that ordinary citizens are ready to embrace cleaner, cheaper electricity, but the national grid and storage capacity must grow quickly to keep up.
He urged international partners to provide concessional finance and transfer affordable technology, saying the 35-by-35 goal could only be met if financing kept pace with ambition.
Meeting with Iranian President
On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister met Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian. The two leaders reaffirmed the deep historical, cultural and religious ties between Pakistan and Iran and agreed to strengthen cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed concern over the prolonged conflict in the region and stressed the need for dialogue, restraint, de-escalation and sustained diplomacy. He said Pakistan would continue to play a sincere and constructive role for peace and stability in the region.
COP31 is being hosted by Türkiye in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, bringing together leaders and delegates from nearly 200 countries to discuss climate finance, the transition to clean energy and help for countries adapting to extreme weather. Pakistan has been pressing for faster delivery of climate finance to vulnerable developing nations, which contribute little to global emissions but suffer some of the worst impacts.
Why it matters
Pakistan is among the countries most exposed to climate change, from floods to heatwaves and melting glaciers. Securing affordable international finance is central to the government’s plans to expand clean power, cut the fuel import bill and protect communities from climate disasters.
Related: more Pakistan news | how Pakistan’s budget works
