CRPD Policy Review

This policy review examines the comparative prospects of hydropower and solar energy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , a province that possesses nearly half of Pakistan’s hydropower resources but has developed only a fraction of its estimated 30,000 MW potential. While large-scale hydropower remains central to provincial energy planning and is supported by significant foreign investment, the study highlights mounting challenges, including climate-induced flood damage, project delays, environmental degradation, community displacement, and long construction timelines. In contrast, the rapid expansion of solar energy offers a lower-cost, faster, and more decentralized alternative, with the provincial government already investing heavily in household and public-sector solarization. Based on an assessment of economic, environmental, and institutional factors, the review argues that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s future energy security should not rely exclusively on hydropower. Instead, it recommends a balanced energy strategy that prioritizes accelerated deployment of solar power, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and decentralized electricity systems while strategically retaining hydropower where it remains economically and environmentally viable.