Pakistan’s solar transition: A systemic response to energy colonialism and regional instability amid Iran’s war crisis

Pakistan’s solar boom overlooks indigenous and traditional knowledge systems in energy management, such as the 'karez' underground irrigation networks in Balochistan, which historically provided decentralised water and energy solutions. The shift to solar panels, while modern, replicates extractive supply chains that displace local communities, particularly in lithium-rich regions like South America where Indigenous groups face land grabs for mining. Indigenous perspectives on energy sovereignty, such as the Māori concept of 'kaitiakitanga' (guardianship), emphasise relational rather than transactional energy use, a framework absent in Pakistan’s market-driven transition.

Pakistan’s energy crisis is rooted in the 1990s structural adjustment programs by IMF/WB, which privatised state-owned utilities and deregulated energy markets, leading to chronic shortages and blackouts. The 1979 Iranian Revolution and subsequent US sanctions on Iran disrupted oil supply chains, exacerbating Pakistan’s dependency on imported fossil fuels—a vulnerability that solar adoption now seeks to mitigate. Historical parallels include India’s post-colonial energy policies, which prioritised large-scale dams and coal plants, only to later pivot to renewables under pressure from climate change and geopolitical instability.

In Bangladesh, solar home systems have empowered rural women by reducing time spent on fuel collection, a model that could inform Pakistan’s gender-inclusive energy transition. Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, while state-led, demonstrates how large-scale renewables can coexist with local resistance, offering lessons for Pakistan’s decentralised approach. The African Union’s 'Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa' (PIDA) prioritises regional energy integration, a strategy Pakistan could adopt to reduce reliance on volatile Middle Eastern oil markets.

Solar adoption in Pakistan aligns with global trends in distributed renewable energy, with studies showing that off-grid solar can reduce household energy costs by 30-50% in low-income settings. However, the scientific narrative often understates the lifecycle emissions of solar panels, which are energy-intensive to manufacture and rely on rare earth minerals with significant environmental and social costs. Research from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights that solar transitions require robust grid integration and storage solutions to avoid new forms of energy poverty.

In Sufi traditions, light ('nur') symbolises divine wisdom and communal illumination, a metaphor that resonates with Pakistan’s solar boom as a collective effort to 'light up' rural communities. The aesthetic of solar panels—often installed on rooftops in geometric patterns—echoes Islamic geometric art, suggesting a cultural syncretism between technology and tradition. However, the spiritual dimension of energy access, such as the role of mosques as community energy hubs, remains unexplored in mainstream narratives.

Pakistan’s solar transition could serve as a case study for other Global South nations facing energy insecurity, particularly in conflict zones like Yemen or Syria, where decentralised renewables could reduce dependency on war-torn supply chains. Scenario modelling by the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that solar could meet 20% of Pakistan’s energy demand by 2030, but this requires addressing grid instability and financing gaps. Future risks include solar panel waste management, which could create a new e-waste crisis if not planned for, and geopolitical tensions over rare earth mineral supply chains.

Rural women, who spend up to 4 hours daily collecting fuelwood, are the primary beneficiaries of solar adoption but are rarely consulted in policy design or implementation. Low-income households in informal settlements, such as Karachi’s Orangi Town, face barriers to solar adoption due to high upfront costs and lack of financing, exacerbating energy inequality. Indigenous communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, where solar projects are expanding, report land dispossession and water contamination from mining for solar components, yet their voices are excluded from national energy debates.