ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's renewable energy capacity shielded the country from an energy crisis despite regional oil supply disruptions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday, as the government moves to accelerate a sweeping clean energy expansion and protect export routes to Gulf markets.

According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Sharif chaired a meeting on long-term power supply planning and the outlook for domestic exports amid current international pressures. He directed officials to formulate a comprehensive national action plan to expand renewable energy sources. He also ordered the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation to arrange vessels to boost export volumes through sea routes.

Renewables currently account for 55% of Pakistan's total electricity generation, with fossil fuels making up the remaining 45%. The government is targeting a 90% renewable share within ten years, with biofuels comprising the remaining 10%.

The prime minister ordered work on the Battery Energy Storage System project to be fast-tracked. "Solar energy and other renewable energy sources are the future of the power sector," he said.

On trade, PM Sharif said Pakistani exports to Gulf countries have continued despite recent global tensions. He credited diplomatic efforts for securing uninterrupted access to those markets. Demand for Pakistani agricultural commodities in the Gulf has risen steadily, officials reported during the briefing.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Dr Mosaddeq Masood Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and other senior officers.

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Pakistan to expand renewable energy to shield economy, exports amid Middle East crisis