The second Asia Energy Transition Summit, jointly organised by the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI), the Alliance for Climate Justice and Clean Energy (ACJCE) and the Pakistan Renewable Energy Coalition (PREC), concluded at LUMS on December 7. The two-day event brought together federal ministers, parliamentarians, civil servants, climate and energy experts and practitioners, academics and activists from across South Asia and Southeast Asia. The summit reaffirmed Asia’s growing political, financial and technological role in shaping regional and global trends towards a clean and just energy transition. It also emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation and collaboration within Asia to expedite and smoothen this transition.

The Summit featured plenary sessions, keynote addresses and thematic discussions focused on advancing a just, people-centred, and affordable energy transition across Asia. Its key themes included new and sustainable pathways for financing energy transition and climatic adaptation and mitigation, tariff and non-tariff barriers to renewable-energy trade, distributed and utility-scale renewable deployment, flexible and climate-resilient grids, governance reforms and the risks posed by inequitable or technologically misdirected ‘false solutions’.

Delivering his keynote address during the summit, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, highlighted the central role of energy transition in Pakistan’s future development. “Clean, reliable and affordable energy is essential for our economic revival,” he said. “By bringing together regional experts, Asia Energy Transition Summit has also helped Pakistan determine its role and contribution in shaping an Asia-wide fair, future-oriented energy agenda.”

Speaking at the closing plenary, Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the financing challenges that developing economies face, particularly in the energy and climate sectors. “The energy transition must ease the already heavy financial burdens on the developing states, not create new ones,” he noted. He also emphasised that as storage costs fall, batteries can address renewable variability and make energy transition smooth.

Nafeesa Shah, Co-Convener, Parliamentary Forum on Energy & Economy, said, “Parliamentarians and policymakers are the missing link in the energy transition and climate diplomacy discourse. It is essential that we promote global and Asia level collaborations for an effective and just energy transition.”

Addressing a townhall session on Pakistan’s power sector, Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari, Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), emphasised the urgent need to modernise the national grid to ensure a smooth and speedy energy transition. “Pakistan must build a flexible and a renewables-driven power system,” he said. “The insights shared during the Asia Energy Transition Summit will certainly guide power sector reforms within Pakistan and help it expand its solar and wind resources for power generation while also ensuring their equitable and affordable access to the citizens.”

Reflecting on the summit’s outcomes, Dr. Fiaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Chairman National Grid Company of Pakistan and Senior Advisor at LEI, highlighted Asia’s shared responsibility for energy transition and climate finance. “The summit brought together individuals and institutions who recognise sustainability, affordability and technical credibility as foundations for Asia’s energy future,” he stated. “I hope the discussions among them will generate partnerships that help countries in the region pursue technologically practical, environmentally appropriate, financially viable and socially just transition pathways.”

Concluding the Summit, Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost of LUMS, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing research-driven, evidence-based energy policy, while Dr. Fiaz Chaudhry noted that the discussions will inform practical and financially viable pathways for countries aligning development agendas with climate and energy imperatives.

The Asia Energy Transition Summit 2025 concluded with renewed commitments from government, private sector stakeholders and international partners to work collaboratively toward a resilient, sustainable and equitable energy future, highlighting Asia’s critical role in driving the global energy transition.

The Asian Productivity Organization’s international conference on Green Productivity 2.0 (GP 2.0), jointly organised by the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI), the National Productivity Organisation Pakistan (NPO), Federal Ministry of Industries & Production, concluded successfully at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The two-day event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, international experts, academics, and development practitioners from 21 Asian Productivity Organization (APO) member economies, with more than 80 foreign delegates participating, marking one of Pakistan’s most prominent international forums on sustainable industrial transformation.

The conference featured high-level plenaries, expert keynotes, and sector-focused discussions aligned with the advanced GP 2.0 framework. Sessions addressed a wide range of themes, including sustainable architecture and industrial growth, energy efficiency, circular-economy innovation, energy transition, digital productivity tools, green hydrogen applications, green initiatives in the power and oil and gas sectors, efficient thin-film photovoltaics, circular plastics solutions, and collaborations across government, academia, and industry. Presentations from experts representing Italy, Japan, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Vietnam, Pakistan and other APO economies showcased cutting-edge research and applied solutions shaping the future of green productivity across the region.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, emphasised, “Green productivity is not just an environmental choice; it is an economic necessity for countries like Pakistan.” He stated that by 2035, Pakistan aims to achieve over 6% productivity-driven GDP growth, $100 billion in exports, a 30% reduction in emissions intensity, universal climate-resilient infrastructure, 60% clean energy, 2 million green and high-tech jobs, and full integration into Asian green supply chains.

Dr. Musadiq Malik, Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the alignment between climate policy and productivity-led growth. He noted, “Pakistan’s energy future depends on cleaner, smarter, and more efficient systems. Green productivity provides the pathway to strengthen energy security and national resilience.” He also said that Pakistan’s 17% voluntary NDC commitment reflects our responsibility to safeguard the future of our children. “The global shift from multilateralism toward bilateral arrangements has led to a steady decline in multilateral climate financing. This contraction poses significant challenges for countries like Pakistan striving to build a fast-growing green economy,” he added.

Representing parliamentary leadership, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz Malik, MNA and Convener of the Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs, underscored the SDG-aligned development priorities and stated, “Green productivity ensures that economic growth advances alongside environmental responsibility and social well-being. This balance is essential for a sustainable Pakistan.”

The APO Secretariat’s perspective was presented by Mr. Zainuri Juri, who commended Pakistan’s leadership on the GP agenda, noting, “Pakistan, a steadfast partner of the APO, has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing Green Productivity, which is exemplary across the member economies.”

Reflecting on the conference outcomes, Dr. Fiaz Chaudhry, Senior Advisor LUMS Energy Institute, and Mr. Alamgir Chaudhry, CEO NPO, highlighted the importance of collaboration in accelerating sustainable transformation. Dr. Fiaz stated, “This conference has shown the power of partnership between government, academia, and industry in shaping Pakistan’s sustainable industrial future.” Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost LUMS, appreciated the active participation from international and national delegates, adding, “The insights shared over these two days will meaningfully support Pakistan’s transition toward cleaner, more competitive, and productivity-driven industrial growth.”

The international conference on Green Productivity 2.0 concluded with a strengthened regional commitment to advance sustainable industrial development, deepen cross-sector collaborations, and support Pakistan’s transition toward a low-carbon, innovation-driven, and globally competitive industrial economy.

October 31, 2025: LUMS and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) have signed an MoU to collaborate on developing commercial financing schemes for LUMS’ upcoming project, ‘Pakistan – Battery Swapping Network’.

The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of electric three-wheelers in Pakistan by introducing flexible and accessible financing options. Through this collaboration, both institutions seek to drive the transition toward cleaner, emission-free transport solutions and contribute to improving air quality across urban centres.

Beyond reducing emissions, the project aligns with Pakistan’s climate change mitigation commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The signing ceremony was held at LUMS and was attended by senior representatives from both organisations, including Omer Mallick, Product Head SME, HBL, and Dr. Tariq Mahmood Jadoon, Provost, LUMS, along with team members from the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI) and HBL’s SME division.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director, LEI emphasised the project’s role in catalysing private sector investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. He noted, “This project has the potential to demonstrate the strong techno-economic viability of electric three-wheelers compared to their internal combustion engine-based counterparts, serving as a catalyst for the transformation of Pakistan’s road transportation sector towards EVs.”

Dr. Tariq Mahmood Jadoon highlighted the university’s continued leadership in EV research and innovation, stating, “LUMS has established the eMobility Research and Development Centre—the first-of-its-kind facility in Pakistan for testing and characterisation of EV batteries, motors, and other components. The centre provides critical support to the emerging EV industry and will play a key role in advancing our upcoming project, Pakistan – Battery Swapping Network.”

Expressing HBL’s commitment to enabling sustainable finance and innovation, Omer Mallick, Product Head SME at HBL, shared, “We are delighted to partner with LUMS on this pioneering initiative. Through the Mitigation Action Facility’s support for a first-loss guarantee, HBL will be able to offer subsidised and convenient financing options to private sector players and SMEs, facilitating the rollout of EV charging infrastructure across Pakistan.”

This collaboration represents a significant step toward developing Pakistan’s electric mobility ecosystem by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and accessible financing.

Lahore, June 26, 2025 – An international survey conducted across 17 total countries, including Pakistan, was commissioned by the Global Methane Hub to gauge public support for climate change solutions, particularly efforts to reduce methane pollution. In Pakistan, the survey was conducted in collaboration with LUMS.

According to the survey, 87% of Pakistanis support action to reduce the impacts of climate change, with 51% expressing strong support. 80% back efforts specifically aimed at reducing methane emissions, including 44% who strongly support such measures.

In Pakistan, public awareness of climate change is remarkably high: 96% of respondents affirmed their belief in climate change, with 71% attributing it to human activities—a figure that aligns with global trends. Among environmental concerns, water quality was ranked as the top issue, with 61% expressing strong concern, followed by air quality at 58% and climate change at 57%.

“Communities that are feeling the most heat—literally—are also the most vocal in calling for climate action,” said Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub. “Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to bring temperatures down, and people know it. It’s not just science—it’s a direct response to what they’re experiencing on the ground.”

Amid increasing threats from heatwaves, floods, and worsening air pollution, 44% of Pakistanis expressed strong support for methane-specific climate action. Among the four Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, Pakistan, the Philippines (43%), and Indonesia (59%) all demonstrated a strong demand for policy action on methane, positioning the region as a leader in climate advocacy.

“Communities across Pakistan are already living through the harshest effects of climate change, from extreme heat and floods to droughts and toxic air. Evidence from secondary sources suggests that the country emits significant levels of methane, driven by a large agriculture sector, unmanaged waste, and an aging gas network. This survey is a timely wake-up call, underscoring the need to measure emissions, raise awareness, and implement targeted, practical solutions,” said Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director of LUMS Energy Institute and Professor at LUMS.

Pakistanis blame large oil and gas companies, waste management corporations, and agricultural producers most for environmental harms. In a separate question, respondents identified oil and gas companies, waste management organisations, and international government systems as the actors most capable of effectively addressing climate change.

Vast Majority of Pakistanis Support Action on Methane Pollution, Blame Industry for Harms

More than three in four Pakistanis said they support climate action plans – defined as “Nationally Determined Contributions” – that include a specific methane emissions reduction target. Support was similarly strong for methane reduction measures across key sectors:

● Energy sector: 79% support
● Agriculture sector: 79% support
● Waste management sector: 77% support

Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari addressed the workshop through video link and commended the joint initiative, stating, “NGC is the first national entity to implement an approved Indigenization Policy, and its strategic procurement model is already delivering tangible results”. He urged WAPDA, DISCOs, KE, and state-owned and private power generation plants to adopt indigenization as a strategic imperative—not as CSR, but as a core procurement principle aligned with the National Electricity Plan 2023–2027.

A key milestone of the workshop was the launch of Pakistan’s first Power Equipment Manufacturing Dashboard, developed by the LUMS Energy Institute with input from power sector stakeholders. This real-time digital tool will monitor localization progress, assess vendor capacity, and identify strategic investment opportunities under the Power Sector Indigenization Plan (PSIP). The dashboard was jointly inaugurated by Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chairman, Board of Directors, NGC, and Senior Advisor at the LUMS Energy Institute, chairman Pakistan Engineering Council Engr. Waseem Nazir and Managing Director NGC Engr. Muhammad Waseem Younas.

Dr. Chaudhry stated, “NGC’s indigenization strategy—anchored in policy reform and targeted educational orders—has already saved over USD 10 million in foreign exchange through import substitution.” He reaffirmed that LUMS will continue supporting policy design, digital innovation, and institutional transformation in the energy sector. “Pakistan’s market for static transmission and substations is currently valued at around $8 million. This figure, however, does not reflect the true scale of our potential. We must work to expand this market at least threefold through strategic development, innovation, and local industrial growth. At the same time, we should set a clear target of achieving no less than $16 million in exports from this sector. That is the level of ambition we must embrace to position ourselves competitively on the global stage” he said.

He said that under the ten-year Integrated Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) and Transmission Exposition Plan (TSEP), investment of USD 8 billion would be needed in the transmission sector. We want these equipment and material to be manufactured in Pakistan, which will save valuable foreign exchange.

Managing Director NGC, Engr. Muhammad Waseem Younas, outlined the tangible progress under the Indigenization Policy. Since 2022, NGC has placed over PKR 2 billion in local orders, including PKR 781 million in educational orders aimed at building industrial capacity. Additionally, NGC’s revision of its Type Test Policy in 2023 to align with international benchmarks has opened the door for local manufacturers to compete globally.

The workshop featured a distinguished panel of institutional leaders, including Dr. Tahir Masood, Chairman BOD, IESCO; Engr. Abid Latif Lodhi, MD, PPMC; Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi, CEO, K-Electric; Dhanpat Kotak, Chairman BOD, NPPMC; and Mian Suhail Husain, former BOD member, EDB, among other senior representatives from regulatory institutions and industry. The discussions addressed bottlenecks to localization across the generation, transmission, and distribution value chain, and explored enabling policies for the manufacturing sector.

Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost, LUMS, added, “LUMS stands committed as a national platform for evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and industry transformation.” Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director, LUMS Energy Institute and BoD Member, NGC, noted, “LEI is helping to reimagine energy localization through interdisciplinary R&D.”

The workshop concluded with consensus on actionable steps to align procurement practices with national localization goals, foster technology partnerships, and create a clear roadmap for import substitution. Dedicated sessions assessed the readiness of local manufacturers, outlined investment needs, and proposed mechanisms to improve coordination between utilities, government, and academia.

Lahore, May 20, 2025 — The LUMS Energy Institute, in collaboration with the National Grid Company (NGC), formerly NTDC, will host the National Consultative Workshop on the Power Sector Indigenization Road Map on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at LUMS, Lahore. Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest, while Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council, Engr. Waseem Nazir will address the gathering and highlight the role of regulatory bodies in accelerating industrial localization.

Prof. Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chairman of the Board of Directors at NGC and Senior Advisor at the LUMS Energy Institute, stated, “This workshop aims to bring together leaders from the power sector, local manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and academia to chart a unified and actionable roadmap to strengthen Pakistan’s electrical equipment manufacturing ecosystem.”

As part of this initiative, the event will feature the official launch of Pakistan’s first Power Equipment Manufacturing Dashboard—a real-time digital platform designed to track localization progress, map vendor capacity, and identify strategic investment opportunities. This tool is developed by the LUMS Energy Institute and will become a cornerstone of the Power Sector Indigenization Plan (PSIP).

The workshop features distinguished speakers and participants, including the Chairman WAPDA, Managing Director PPMC, CEO K-Electric, Chairman BoDs of DISCOs, Chairman CPPA-G, and other senior representatives from government, industry, and regulatory institutions. The forum will host expert-led discussions on the challenges and potential of localizing key electrical equipment across the generation, transmission, and distribution segments. Special sessions will evaluate the capability of local manufacturers to meet national demand, with stakeholder recommendations to be presented directly to decision-makers for actionable outcomes.

This timely initiative aligns with Pakistan’s ongoing energy reforms under the National Electricity Policy 2023–2027, which emphasizes reducing import dependency and promoting indigenous capabilities. With the collaboration of public institutions, industry, and academia, the consultative workshop is expected to contribute significantly to building a self-reliant and sustainable energy infrastructure.

About LUMS
Established in 1985 as a private, not-for-profit university, LUMS is one of South Asia’s top academic institutions known for its commitment to outstanding learning, research intensity, and teaching excellence. It is renowned for its exceptional academics and quality, emphasising access, relevance, and collaboration, with an increasing focus on tackling the major challenges confronting the Global South.
About the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI)

The LUMS Energy Institute is a nationally recognized think tank dedicated to accelerating Pakistan’s transition toward sustainable and secure energy systems. Through data-driven analysis, interdisciplinary research, and strategic policy design, LEI engages with government entities, industry leaders, and global institutions to shape evidence-based solutions for the country’s energy future.