Abu Dhabi, Jan 11 — Pakistan showcased its accelerating progress in renewable energy and inclusive climate action at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, reaffirming its commitment to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.

Delivering Pakistan’s national statement, Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, outlined the country’s swift, people-centric transition towards renewable energy, with a strong focus on solar power as a driver of energy security and social inclusion.

She informed the assembly that Pakistan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets, with 12 gigawatts of off-grid solar capacity and more than 6 gigawatts of net-metered solar installations achieved by the end of 2025. She noted that during the last fiscal year, renewable energy contributed a record 53 percent of Pakistan’s total electricity generation, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy transition.

Highlighting the social dimension of the shift to clean energy, Ms. Alam said the government is actively addressing energy poverty through targeted initiatives such as the Punjab Solar Panel Scheme 2026, which provides free or subsidised solar systems to low-income households. She added that distributed solar solutions have played a critical role in restoring electricity access and livelihoods in flood-affected communities, presenting a scalable model for climate-resilient recovery.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s climate ambitions, Ms. Alam reiterated the national target of achieving 60 percent renewable energy in the power mix by 2030, in line with global climate goals and national development priorities.

In her call to action, she urged IRENA and its member states to expand concessional financing for developing countries, recognise emerging technologies such as energy storage and green hydrogen as global public goods, and enhance regional cooperation to ensure shared energy security.

Concluding her address, Ms. Alam reaffirmed Pakistan’s full commitment to the Paris Agreement and expressed optimism for continued technical and financial collaboration with IRENA to build a resilient, inclusive and low-carbon energy future.