Statistical Energy Information and Analysis of Pakistan Economic Corridor Based on Strengths, Availabilities, and Future Roadmap

In Pakistan, the performance of conventional electrical grids is inefficient, resulting in severe energy crises. To overcome the alarming challenges persisting in the energy grids, Pakistan must focus on system protection, grid reliability, distribution and transmission, and power quality. The inefficiencies in grid protection and management signify an overall problematic energy scenario. The solutions to these problems include the improvement of domestic, commercial, and industrial demand-side management and the reduction in distribution network losses. A smart grid (SG) is a critical requirement as it can overcome the shortcomings of the existing grid owing to its promising features, enhanced consumer empowerment, utmost security; efficient and optimized energy flow; and demand-supply management. Thus, the SG is essential to overcome the energy crisis in Pakistan and achieve the standards of other developed nations in the energy sector. This study aims to highlight the significant prospects of SGs within Pakistan with the key objectives of its availability requirements. We compare the energy scenario in Pakistan with that of other countries and recommend various aspects that require improvement through SG implementation. Additionally, we discuss the incorporation of renewable energy resources and present a market analysis regarding SGs to illustrate the SG scenario and its implementation in Pakistan. Moreover, we analyze and evaluate detailed taxonomies of energy generation, energy projects, renewable energy assessment, power market trends in Pakistan, and the basic requirements of SGs. Furthermore, a critical analysis of the energy sector in Pakistan is elaborated, which describes the possibilities, requirements, and strengths pertaining to the transformation of the modern electric grid with respect to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. Thus, we believe that our work is more versatile in improving the energy system of Pakistan for the implementation of the SG.


I. INTRODUCTION
Pakistan is an energy-deficient country and is confronting an alarming energy crisis. Consumers are facing power outages for several hours on a daily basis [1]. Over the past few years, energy demand has drastically increased. However, in contrast to the demand, the generating capacity has not improved proportionally. By 2050, the energy requirement of Pakistan is estimated to witness a three-fold increase [8]. However, the energy demand is significantly more than energy production [5], [6]. Between 2013 and 2020, the growth rate in electricity demand was 7.8%. This demonstrated an increase in the entire electricity demand to 27,840 MW by 2017 and 31,900 MW by 2020 [29]. Fig. 1 illustrates the total system capacities and power demands for different electricity suppliers in Pakistan in the year 2015. The Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) revealed that the average power deficit in Pakistan is considerably more than 5,000 MW, and this shortfall is consistently increasing. Operational inefficiencies, such as electricity theft and line losses, are predominant in the present electricity system. The total power loss in the current system is 19.7% of the total electricity generated in Pakistan. Consequently, Pakistan faces continuous power failure on a daily basis. These power failures directly affect state economies [2]. To support electricity generation, the import of oil has increased, thereby increasing the import costs significantly over the past few decades. This has added an extra burden on the state economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Pakistan is reduced by 3-4% owing to electricity outages, resulting in a loss of approximately $13.5 billion per year to the economy of the state [4]. Pakistan spent roughly $14.5 billion on conventional energy resources, which constitute 40% of the overall imports of the country. Various energy resources for electricity generation are depicted in Fig. 2, where conventional energy resources are at a higher percentage than non-conventional energy resources.
The increase in production capacity and energy management, including demand-side management (DSM), is achieved using smart grids (SGs), which are considered to be a promising solution to the energy crisis [1]. SGs are fundamental to the accomplishment of the energy efficiency objective. Local systems work with microgrids to consolidate the electricity power system on a small scale. SG application will help the energy system of Pakistan to overcome its transmission and distribution (T&D) losses [10]. The engineering and scientific methodology of Pakistan is to seek out energy management prospects and integrate surplus renewable energy (RE) sources into the energy mix [1].
Pakistan is a resourceful country and has a vast amount of different RE sources. According to [7], the conventional energy usage rate is high and is not efficiently utilized. Conventional and RE frameworks were analyzed in [13], [14], [21], which provided suggestions for the effective use of renewable technologies. The total power production in Pakistan was analyzed by [13], [15]. The DSM solutions recommended fulfilling energy deficiency was typically proposed for domestic and industrial customers. Currently, the common DSM method practiced in Pakistan is complete load shedding. However, several DSM programs are significantly more malleable and amenable in terms of load restraints. Demand response programs (DRPs) were discussed in [15], [29]. The power production by independent power producers (IPPS) was discussed in [25], [33]. Waleed et al. discussed the scopes, technology, constraints, and opportunities for smart meters in Pakistan [2]. The SG policies implemented globally were overviewed in [2], [17], [120]. The communication infrastructure in Pakistan was elaborated in [15], [28], [121].
In the cities of Multan, Vehari, and Khanewal, 40,000 smart meters were installed in 2015 at the cost of US$ 69,172. This project was initiated in 2010 to improve the utility billing system [9]. The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has 17 feeders, out of which 12 feeders are main load generators. LESCO replaced the conventional energy The remaining paper is organized as follows. In Section II, the SG trends in different countries of the world are discussed. The energy demand statistics of Pakistan for RERs and conventional energy resources are discussed in Section III. The power market of Pakistan is analytically analyzed in Section IV. Basic requirements of SGs, future energy forecast, smart meters, and distributed energy resources about Pakistan, and the impact of CPEC on the SG system development within Pakistan are discussed in Section V. Section VI concludes the work with a concise summary and future work proposal. VOLUME 8, 2020

II. GLOBAL TRENDS OF SMART GRID (SG)
The SG forms a distributed and automated energy delivery system and is capable of delivering quality power supply to consumers. The SG responds to a wide range of events that occur anywhere in the grid on the generation, transmission, or distribution side [1]. The growth of the SG is increasing day-by-day worldwide. Power systems are heading toward advanced, intelligent, and consumer-friendly modern electric grids termed as SGs, which are capable of resolving the alarming problems of the conventional power system. The SG is beneficial to society, the electrical power industry, consumers, and stakeholders. The issues relating to the SG must be addressed by the stakeholders of the electric power industry. Moreover, RE programs are implemented in the SG. The utilization of SG is rapidly increasing both in developed and underdeveloped countries owing to (a) reduced energy costs, (b) high efficiency and reliability, (c) high robustness, (d) DRPs, and (e) consumer empowerment [4]- [6].

A. GLOBAL APPLICATIONS OF SG
The application of SG technology assists (a) consumers, (b) utilities, and (c) policymakers [31]. The SG ensures reliability, efficiency, and flexibility of power generation, transmission, and distribution in a controlled and smart manner, thus lowering peak demand.

1) GLOBALLY USED SMART METERS AND SMART APPLIANCES
Smart meters perform an essential role in enabling the integration of new technologies [36]. Smart meters collect data by measuring and calculating daily consumptions; moreover, they help customers to reduce energy usage during peak hours to support the grid. Smart appliances perform a vital role in the SG [119]. The SG appliances that support the grid contribute to peak demands and store energy during critical peak periods. The electricity demand is increasing, and smart appliances assist in energy saving owing to their low power consumption. Peak periods vary from region to region, depending upon the weather conditions. In certain countries, the peak demand period is during summer, and in certain countries, the peak demand period is observed during winters [38]. Fig. 4 describes the SG projects in the USA and its neighborhood. Smart meters are installed in the USA, several European countries (Germany, France, Denmark, Austria, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and other developing countries. In the USA, approximately 46 million smart meters are installed [48].

2) GLOBAL TRENDS OF DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS
One of the key aspects of the SG is a demand response (DR). The electricity consumption is controlled through DRPs [26], while the DR involves consumer participation and assists consumers to shift load at peak hours and emergencies. Load control devices and automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) are examples of DRs. Load management is an approach used by electric power and utility companies to reduce the load at peak hours when demand is high; thus, the load is shifted to lowpeak periods. Consumers are offered incentives for saving energy at peak periods [40]. DR provides reliability by flattening the load profiles using an emergency resource, known as load rejection, that protects the grid [41]. Fig. 5 illustrates the applications of DR. DRP includes (a) dynamic pricing, (b) consumer utility, and (c) load management. DRP is an environment-friendly and cost-effective program. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA are contributing in terms of DRPs at both federal and state levels, and several regulations are organized to support DRPs [58]. European countries and China and other developing countries are also contributing to this field and have realized the requirement of these programs for avoiding blackouts and system failures.

B. GLOBAL APPLICATIONS OF SG (HEADING IS REPEATED AGAIN)
RE utilization in SGs is increasing owing to certain pertinent features, namely, (a) grid support, (b) power quality improvement, (c) reliability, and (d) cost reduction. Programs for RE are implemented in various regions of the world, in both developed and developing countries [42]. The distributed generation stabilizes a weak grid by accommodating the additional power into the grid and improves the power quality of the SG [31]. The renewable resources facilitate the massive generation, reduced CO 2 emissions, and an ecofriendly environment [46]. Renewable resources with advanced control systems can interact with SG control systems and provide supplementary services.
For example, the concept of distributed generation is used with capacitor banks for the management of power streams and to regulate active and reactive powers. If distributed renewable resources are grouped with the SG technology, it will contribute to transmission-level ancillary services, such as spinning reserves [31]. Table 2 lists the global investment in the RE sector for the previous years (2004-2015) measured in billion dollars ($bn). According to previous work, RE enhanced the global energy generation capacity and increased the investment in RETs, when compared to all other energy systems.

C. WORLDWIDE TOP RENEWABLE ENERGY INVESTORS
SG technology is improving consistently and poses positive impacts on society. These developments have revived the interest of researchers, which has aided in increasing grid efficiency [32]. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a 12% increase in annual SG investment was observed in 2015. The installation and development of SG technologies depend on industrial drivers, policymakers, and investors. The USA played an important role in grid modernization and is known as a ''world leader'' in the development and installation of SGs as several US companies provide useful technological solutions, consequently increasing their SG exports [2]. However, in 2009, China surpassed the USA and  became the largest market in the world in SG investment [47]. Table 3 lists the country-wise clean energy investments. Both developed and developing countries are focusing on SG development and installation after comprehending the requirement for SGs because of their efficiency, security, reliability, and reduced environmental impacts.

1) GLOBAL INVESTMENTS IN SG
From 2010 to 2013, the US electric industry spent approximately $18 billion for the deployment of SG technology. The analyst expected an increase in the expenditure from $1.2 billion in the year 2011 to $1.9 billion in the year 2017 and a decrease in AMI deployment expenditure from $3.6 billion in 2011 to $1.2 billion in 2017 [49]. Developing countries are also focusing on SG technology deployment. Electric Power Research Institute estimates that $338-476 billion will be expended to completely shift to SG technology in the next 20 years with initial expenditures of approximately $82-90 billion for transmission structures and substations, $232-339 billion for distribution structures, and $24-46 billion for consumer system employment [50]. The task is considerably exigent as grid-connected RE, and distributed energy applications have increased, resulting in the requirement for an efficient and intelligent grid system. However, interoperability and system integration challenges are expected to persist with changes in information management and control systems [48].

2) GLOBALLY IMPLEMENTED SG POLICES
Different SG policies are implemented worldwide for addressing several ongoing deployment problems. Countries have set different targets for SG installation and are competing with other countries to overcome the current demands. The USA is focusing on low-carbon energy as the current energy system is not carbon-free and produces high emissions. Currently, only 11% of electricity is generated from renewable resources in the USA, whereas it is 19% and 27% in China and Italy, respectively [52]. For China, the development and installation of SGs in the energy sector is a national priority. China is creating policies to achieve a carbon-free environment and has set a goal to deliver clean energy and installation through SGs by 2020 [53]. The European Union ranks second in the world energy market, which accommodates 450 million customers [52]. Developing countries are planning to create new policies to improve their capabilities to be on par with developed countries. The government of the Philippines is planning an investment in the field of SGs in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank by obtaining a loan of $250 million [31].

D. SMART TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS WORLDWIDE
The SG is an emerging technology used worldwide to overcome the problems of load shedding and power system failures. Manual meters are replaced with smart meters to overcome theft problems and high costs [54]. Several efficient, intelligent products have been designed to fulfill the current energy demands. Companies are providing solutions for air conditioning, ventilation, and heating through smart buildings. The grid stabilizes by incorporating energy storage devices, RE, AMI, and DRPs. All these features of the SG result in its resilience and suitability for existing energy demands and future requirements.

1) SG DEVELOPMENT IN THE USA
In the USA, the conventional electric grid is undergoing revolutionary changes by merging it with digital technologies. Policies are underway to encourage and boost investment by the business community in the field of growing renewable and distributed energy resources. The SG involves two primary processes: (a) introduction of digital technology and (b) information management; therefore, it enables the modernization of electric power delivery and distribution to consumers. However, the SG utilization and deployment processes across the world have witnessed a struggle with a set of new technical, regulatory, and financial trends, indicating the transformation and renovation in the field of energy [48].
• Export Opportunities in the USA The investment in the SG field by the USA started in 2009, and currently, the country is one of the leading investors in SG. Various small and big investment companies in the USA are helping different countries of the world with their VOLUME 8, 2020 expertise in the deployment and development of the SG technology. From the beginning, the International Trade Association (ITA) has shown its interest in the SG field and is contributing to the research and analysis domain of the US government [45].
• Leading International Markets of the USA The ITA ranks and grades ''34'' leading international markets of the USA for their export and determines the typical characteristics of top-ranking countries. Table 4 lists the ITA ranking and grading of the 34 leading global markets of the USA in terms of export growth. Owing to the development progress of the USA pertaining to SGs, the country is leading in the international energy market for SGs. A report based on various global market data and analyses reveals that the USA is competing globally in the field of services and products of various utilities. After China and Germany, the USA is the third-largest exporter of T&D equipment [45].

2) SG DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE
Europe is facing specific challenges, and in response to the upcoming challenges, initiatives to benefit its consumers and increase grid efficiency are being considered. Therefore, Europe is investing on a large scale in SGs to fortify its power system [55]. There are several ongoing SG projects in Denmark, Austria, and France, whereas Germany is leading in multinational projects with approximately 105 projects. Currently, Spain, Italy, and France have 97, 89, and 76 transnational projects, respectively [57].

3) SG DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA
In the year 2004, the industrial sector in China witnessed a rapid growth in electricity consumption, resulting in an electricity shortage in the year 2005, which affected several companies. The generation capacity was improved by reducing line losses and installing high-efficiency transformers for load management. Owing to a rapid increase in electricity demand, China is focusing on SG deployment and is following in the footsteps of the USA and Europe. China is facing a severe challenge of maintaining the efficiency, sustainability, and reliability of the SGs. Furthermore, another problem is that the coal mines are at distant locations from major load centers in China [56].

4) SG DEVELOPMENT IN JAPAN
The SG transformation in Japan is a strategic energy planning process with the coordination of viable policies between different agencies and organizations. The Japanese SG community is divided into four major working groups, which include (a) development strategies, (b) global standardization, (c) a roadmap for future deployment, and (d) organization of smart house information. Japan is planning to manage energy consumption and integrate electric vehicles in systems with distributed generation in four major cities. A triple I (intelligent, interactive, and integrated) power system is also in the development stages, which aims to match the demand and supply for incorporating renewable distributed resources [31]. Historically, Japan is the first nation to invest in SG research and development in 2003. Moreover, Japan established the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, which has administered numerous SGassociated schemes.

5) SG DEVELOPMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
The Korean government is working on the vision of ''Low Carbon, Green Growth'' since 1968. This vision resulted in the formation of the foundation of the Korean SG Institute (KSGI). The institution is responsible for the exploitation of SG technology and the integration of renewable resources in addition to boosting economic growth. The KSGI, consisting of over 100 companies, is working on five megaprojects on infrastructure development, research, and analysis that link government and private sector investors [31].

6) SG DEVELOPMENT IN MEXICO
Mexico is planning the incorporation of various modes of SGs and the integration of RERs at the national level. The Mexican Federal Electricity Commission is formulating a tender for the implementation of a model project. The SG Development Model is planning and creating the roadmap for the transformation of SG technology [31].

7) SG DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA
Indonesia is a country with several small, independent, distributed islands (over 17,000 small and large islands). It is showing significant interest in SG for addressing the requirements of its scattered public demand, particularly increasing the efficiency of existing grids and developing smaller-scale SG programs. Malaysia is investing in hydroelectric (hydel), solar, wind energy, and thermal electricity production. However, Malaysia is not perusing SG technology, considering the massive initial investment required for the project [31].

8) SG DEVELOPMENT IN NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand government is planning to obtain 90% of its electricity from renewable resources, including hydrogenation, by 2025. The efficiency target of saving 55 PJ by the end of the year 2015 was possible through the employment of AMI systems. The Electricity Commission recommended the government to standardize the development of AMI comprehensively. However, the benefits of standardization do not outweigh the costs. The Electricity Commission recommended the formulation of regulations for interoperability, data security, and unplanned disconnection of consumers from the existing AMI systems [31].

9) SG DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA
The intellectual power system of Russia is a significant platform of the Russian Energy Agency and Federal Grid Company for the development of SG technology and its utilization. The objective of this platform is to formulate a comprehensive plan for employing SG technology with renewable resources to shift the power system to SG. The primary demonstration of SG will be performed in the city of Belgorod in Russia, and the deployment, integration, and distribution will be triggered by this city [31].

10) SG DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan is in the development phase, and the government is working on several projects. According to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), by 2016, ''five'' hydel power projects are expected to be completed. Several natural resources are available to overcome the current energy crises, and positive steps are required for stability in this area.
Pakistan is facing several challenges in the field of energy and will require several years to gain the status of a developed country. The concept of SG has not yet been introduced in Pakistan, and the current grid is conventionally installed throughout the country. As some of the projects are in their completion phases under the CPEC and is expected to boost the economy, improve the current power crisis situation, and enhance the energy capacity of Pakistan.

E. CONCLUDING REMARKS
In the present era, scientists are inventing innovative techniques for the economical use of energy resources. The VOLUME 8, 2020 production, management, T&D of energy in existing conventional grids are in the process of transition and is being replaced by the SG technology in the developed countries of the world. The SG facilitates the consumers by provisioning of real-time energy tariffs to reschedule their load demands during peak-pricing hours. The SG technology is being extensively implemented by China, USA, Russia, Far East nations such as Japan, Korea, and in the south-east part of the world, especially Australia and New Zealand. Developing countries are also planning to adopt SG technology, considering the availability of resources and foreign investments. Underdeveloped countries are not familiar with the concept of SGs. Pakistan is investing in the SG technology to overcome the current energy crises and is utilizing its assets to boost the economy. It is perceived that in the next 15 years, most of the countries will strive for the deployment of SGs and the integration of RERs into SGs.

III. RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES WITHIN PAKISTAN
Energy is a critical requirement in all aspects of human welfare. The development and sustainment of the economy of a country are dependent on electricity. In Pakistan, a large amount of energy is required for industrial as well as household requirements and to retain the country on the track of modernization. At present, the country is struggling to increase the sustained energy supply [59], [60]. In Pakistan, all forms of energy resources are abundantly available. The essential requirement is the effective utilization that will up improve the economy of the country [61].
The available energy resources within Pakistan are shown in Fig. 6. The energy potentials and resources are of two types, namely, (a) conventional energy resources and (b) RERs. Conventional resources indicate the sources of energy that are generally non-renewable. The primary conventional resources are thermal and nuclear energy resources. Thermal energy is generated from fossil fuels, coal, and natural gas. RE is produced from natural resources, such as geothermal, solar, wind, hydel, waste heat, and biomass energies. In an unindustrialized country, such as Pakistan, financial and costeffective stability relies on the growth of the energy sector to motivate communal opulence and long-term development for the employment of domestic energy techniques. Since the last few years, Pakistan has been confronting an extraordinary energy catastrophe. Currently, the energy demand of Pakistan far exceeds its indigenous supplies, which has resulted in a dependency on imported oil, degrading the economy of Pakistan. Thus, to ensure the reliability of energy provisions, the GoP is implementing policies to increase its domestic supplies, attract foreign assets, increase the imports of coal, natural gas, and electricity, reassure economic inter-fuel replacement, endorse energy efficiency and the utilization of REs, and achieve provincial and interregional collaboration [8].

A. ENERGY DEMAND AND STATISTICS OF PAKISTAN
In the last few decades, there has been a significant increment in the demand for primary energy in Pakistan. The primary energy is a vast entity that includes all necessary forms of energy, such as gas and electricity, which are used for commercial and industrial applications [61]. In Pakistan, since 1991, the primary energy production and consumption have witnessed a steadily increasing gap that has a profound impact on energy resources. The difference between primary energy production and primary energy consumption was 0.9 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE) (production was 28.5 MTOE, and consumption was 29.4 MTOE) in 1991, while the difference between primary energy production and consumption in 2013 was 7.31 MTOE (production was 64.59 MTOE, and consumption was 71.9 MTOE).
Statistics show that the increase in the growth rate of primary energy consumption from 1991 to 2013 was 136% [63]. Pakistan has several primary energy sources, of which gas provided 47% of commercial energy in 2013-2014. Other major resources such as oil, hydel power, coal, nuclear electricity, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) provided 33, 11, 6, 2, and 1%, respectively, as shown in Fig. 7(a). The commercial energy supply provided by REs was negligible. The proposed energy supply of Pakistan in 2024-2025 is shown in Fig. 7(b) [71]. The figure shows that gas is expected to provide 35% of commercial energy supply, followed by oil (20%), hydel (15%), coal and RE (each will provide 10%), nuclear (8%), and LPG (2%). The proposed energy mix of Pakistan shows that by the year 2024-2025, the energy supply from gas and oil will decrease, while the energy supply from hydel, coal, renewable, nuclear, and LPG will increase.
The primary consumers in Pakistan are commercial, agriculture, industrial, domestic, and transport sectors, as shown in Fig. 7(c). The primary energy consumption is divided as follows: industrial consumption was 35%, followed by transport consumption at 32%, domestic consumption at 25%, commercial consumption at 4%, agriculture consumption at 2%, and specific other sectors consumed 2% in 2013-2014. A study on energy consumption by sectors has built a forecast of the energy consumption of Pakistan in 2024-2025, as shown in Fig. 7(d). The forecast for energy consumption indicates an exponential trend, with a 0.3% built-in error [71]. The forecast of energy consumption according to sectors in Pakistan shows that the primary sector in energy consumption will be the transport sector, which is expected to consume 36%, followed by the domestic, industrial, commercial, other, and agricultural sectors, which are expected to consume 34, 22, 5, 2, and 1% of the total energy in 2024-2025, respectively. The forecast shows that the energy consumption by the industrial and agricultural sectors will decrease, while the energy consumption by transport, domestic, and commercial sectors will increase by the year 2024-2025 in Pakistan.
The energy supply and demand projections in Pakistan are illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows the gap between the supply and demand for primary energy in Pakistan. The increasing rate of primary energy demand in Pakistan is higher than the    growth rate of primary energy supply. With such a trend in the primary energy demand, Pakistan will be facing an extreme shortage of energy in the future.
According to the National Energy Supply Program, the expected increment in the primary energy consumption in Pakistan is from 40.18 MTOE in 2005 to 360 MTOE in 2030, which shows a growth rate of 796%. Thus, in the future, Pakistan is expected to face more than a 31% shortage of energy. According to the ADB, the expected increment in the primary energy demand of Pakistan indicates growth from 84.6 MTOE in 2010 to 145.8 MTOE in 2035, which shows a 2.2% annual growth rate. With such a yearly growth rate, the energy demand in Pakistan will be 0.59 tons of oil equivalent (TOE) per person in 2035, which was 0.49 TOE per person in 2010 [63].

B. CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES
At present, several countries in the world are excessively dependent on conventional energy resources to satisfy their requirements for power [64]. The primary sources of conventional energy are fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Along with fossil fuels, nuclear energy is also a resource of conventional energy. Energy production in Pakistan is primarily dependent on conventional energy resources [60]. According to the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), the average share of conventional resources from 2010-2015 in overall power generation was 66.1% in Pakistan. The average percentage of thermal power (oil, natural gas, and coal) was 62.05%, followed by hydropower (33.4%), and nuclear power (4.05%); also, the energy import was 0.36% in 2010-2015, as listed in Table 5. The aforementioned conventional energy resources are described below.

1) FOSSIL FUELS
The deposits of organisms that previously lived in the world contain hydrogen and carbon bonds and are known as fossil fuels. Owing to the advent of modern industry, fossil fuels are the leading energy sources. Fossil fuels include the following: (a) oil, (b) coal, and (c) natural gas [66].
Oil is a more efficient source of energy when compared to coal. Different organic compounds are obtained from crude oil and are transformed through a refining process into a wide range of products. Oil is extracted through a drilling process from the earth [66]. Since 1915, Pakistan has been producing crude oil. According to an estimate, the currently available assets of crude oil are 371 million barrels, primarily existing in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa (KPK). In 2013, the average production of oil was 76,200 barrels/day. Despite this, the domestic production of oil satisfies only 20% of the demand in Pakistan. Thus, to overcome the demand-supply gap, petrol/gasoline, furnace oil, diesel oil, and crude oil are imported from the Middle East countries to Pakistan [42]. The insufficiency of oil is the foremost limitation in Pakistan as it results in regular imports, both in the forms of crude oil and finished petroleum products. Pakistan imported $11.7 billion worth of petroleum in 2014-2015, which accounted for approximately a quarter of the total trade bill of the country [43]. In Pakistan, the energy supply from oil was 33%, and the consumption of oil energy was 30% in 2013-2014 [67].
Coal is used for heat and energy purposes. The industrial revolution was equipped with coal, transforming human civilization. Generally, coal is extracted in three primary forms from mines, namely, anthracite, bituminous, and lignite [66]. Favorably, Pakistan has a significantly economical and lowpriced source for energy in the form of coal. To match the electric supply and demand in Pakistan, the utilization of coal is a feasible and durable solution, as the country has the fifthlargest amount of coal credits in the world. Estimations made in 2011 show that Pakistan has approximately 185 billion tons of coal reserves. The Thar desert in Pakistan, covering an area of approximately 10,000 km 2 , contains nearly 850 trillion cubic feet of deposits, which is comparatively higher than the oil assets of Saudi Arabia, which is about 375 billion barrels. Presently 40.6% of the electricity in the world is being generated from coal. However, in Pakistan, only 2.27% of the total electricity is made from coal. The available coal deposits in the Thar region can only produce 20,000 MW of electricity in Pakistan for the next 40 years, excluding load shedding and at a cost less than Pakistan rupees (PKR) 4, when compared to the present price of electricity production [99].
Natural Gas is composed of methane and is the most recent gaseous form of fossil fuels. Natural gas is generally found at varying depths in the crust of the earth and is extracted  through drilling processes from the earth. Coal and oil are less attractive than natural gas because of their lower calorific value and high carbon dioxide emissions, as listed in Table 6 [66]. In 1952, the first fundamental discovery of natural gas in Pakistan was made at a distant, and less-known location in Baluchistan called Sui. It is claimed that Pakistan still owns one of the most wide-ranging inland natural gas source substructures in the world with an unconceivable total length of approximately 140,000 km, which is sufficient to circle the whole world at least three times. Subsequent significant discoveries occurred in Mari and Kandhkot; however, these were not exploited in the preceding years because of a lack of requirements. The revolutionary sequence of significant discoveries happened in the last era of the 20 th century at Qadirpur, Zamzama, and Sawan [101].
Consequently, the consumption of natural gas accelerated from 1,742 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in 1998-1999 to 3,181 MMCFD in 2004-2005; similarly, the rate of depletion of national gas assets was also observed. Presently, the average gas assembly is appraised to be approximately 4,000 MMCFD. At the same time, the supply-demand gap has reached 1,000-1,500 MMCFD and is predicted to widen up to 4,000 MMCFD by 2020 unless substantial new production is possible [43]. In Pakistan, the energy supply from natural gas was 47%, and the consumption of natural gas energy was 44% in 2013-2014 [67].

2) NUCLEAR ENERGY
A form of conventional energy, nuclear energy is primarily generated through controlled nuclear reactions such as nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Atomic fission involves the breaking of a heavy atom into segments generating massive energy. In nuclear fusion, a larger nucleus is created from the combination of several small nuclei, which releases a large amount of energy. Concerning energy yield, all nuclear power comes from the nuclear fusion process, which is considered to be more productive than the nuclear fission process. To minimize the dependency of the world on oil for electricity production, a vital portion of power is obtained from nuclear energy. In the global primary sources of energy supply, approximately 7% is contributed by nuclear energy [66].
In Pakistan, all the nuclear energy initiatives, explorations, and research in the field are headed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, the first nuclear power generator of PAEC of 137 MW, was started in 1971, approximately 25 km west of Karachi. Chashma 1, also known as Chashma Nuclear Power Plant 1, situated at the north of the Punjab province, is a second unit, which is a 325 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR), which was started in the year 2000 with 40 years of estimated life. In December 2005, the construction of Chashma 2 was started, and in March 2011, it was connected to the grid. Since then, expansions have added 5 MW of power (330 MW gross). The construction of Chashma 3, a 315 MW reactor, was started in May 2011, and the grid connection occurred in October 2016 [124]. Table 7 lists those mentioned above operational nuclear plants in Pakistan.
According to a report published in August 2011, Pakistan had proposed a long-term plan for the construction of nuclear reactors having a total potential of 8,000 MW at ten different locations by 2030. On the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the PAEC had selected six new sites for the construction of nuclear plants, which included the Pat Feeder canal near Guddu, Qadirabad-Balloki link canal bordering Qadirabad Headworks, Taunsa-Panjnad canal bordering Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan canal bordering Taunsa Barrage, Nara canal bordering Sukkur, and Kabul River. The reports of the PAEC published in the year 2012 declared the plan for four reactors in the Taunsa-Panjnad link canal near Multan. According to a report published in January 2014, the PAEC planned to construct five additional nuclear reactors (1,100 MW) to overcome the increasing demands of electricity [40]. In Pakistan, the energy supply from nuclear energy was 2% of the overall energy supply in 2013-2014 [67].

C. AVAILABILITY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
RE is generally generated from natural resources, such as geothermal, solar, wind, biomass energies, and energy from wastes. RERs have also played an essential role in human welfare since the beginning of civilization; for example, biomass has been used for cooking, heating, and steam production; the wind has been used for moving ships; both wind and hydropower have been used for powering grinding mills. RE that is obtained from domestic resources has the potential of providing energy services with almost zero emission of greenhouse and air pollutant gases. RERs are plentiful and are acknowledged to be robust and sufficiently abundant to satisfy the energy demands of the world multiple times [6].
In Pakistan, the potential exists for almost all types of REs [11]. RERs are available in various provinces of Pakistan, such as Sindh, Punjab, and KPK, where the average speed of wind at a specific location is approximately 5-7 m/s. Similarly, in Pakistan, 1,600 GW of the annual generation of electricity is possible from only solar energy. The share of electricity generated from geothermal energy is approximately 2% of the total green energy generated [70]. Pakistan has abundant availability of RERs; however, the major challenge is that these resources are not efficiently utilized. The first RE policy of Pakistan was published in 2006, which established mid-and long-term projects that included 9,700 MW of electricity generation from RERs by the year 2030 and the electrification of 7,874 off-grid villages. However, despite these ambitious projects, there has not been much advancement in the exploitation of emerging RETs in Pakistan. The share of emerging RETs in electricity generation was approximately 0.2% (excluding large hydro projects), with only 40 MW of installed capacity in 2008 [71].
The Pakistan Council of RETs (PCRET) has performed an essential function in the improvement and promotion of RE in Pakistan since 2001. The primary activities of PCRET include the installation and development of RE sources at the community level. Table 8 lists the notable achievements of the PCRET with regards to the RE-based products disseminated to the community till 2009. In 2010-11, there were no significant achievements by the public or private sector toward the development and installation of RE-based generation plants [72].
The GoP has also started specific developmental projects using RETs that showed significantly promising results. However, these RETs have not been installed on a large scale and consequently are unable to contribute significantly to the electricity share of the country [71]. The available energy resources within Pakistan are discussed below.

1) SOLAR ENERGY RESOURCES
One of the green energy resources that do not pollute the environment or contribute to global warming is solar energy. Solar energy radiated in one second is more than the energy used by the people since the beginning of time. Solar energy is ecologically advantageous when compared to other green energy resources. Solar energy does not result in the depletion of natural resources, emission of CO 2 or other gases into the atmosphere, or production of solid or liquid waste products [73].
Pakistan is situated on the sunny belt and has a significant potential for solar energy. The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), in collaboration with the National RE Laboratory (NREL) of the USA, evaluated to measure the solar potential in Pakistan. The report states that Pakistan is located in a region where most of the days are long and sunny with high solar insulation and radiations, which is practically perfect for solar development projects. The average solar radiation in Pakistan is 15.5 × 1,014 kW h per year, with 8-10 h sunlight a day in most of the areas. The evaluated potential in Pakistan is approximately 1,600 GW annually, which is 40 times more than the existing power generation capacity [59].
The Pakistan Meteorological Department collected and measured solar radiation data for a long duration (27 years), which shows that Quetta receives a yearly average of 21.65 MJ/m 2 /day of solar radiation energy, with a maximum of 29.68 MJ/m 2 /day in June. This corresponds to an annual percentage of 6 kW·h/m 2 /day and a maximum value of 8.25 kW·h/m 2 /day pertaining to the solar resource. The yearly averages are 19.25, 18.36, and 17.0 MJ/m 2 /day at Karachi, Peshawar, and Lahore, respectively, as listed in Table 9 [75].
The measured monthly average of solar radiation in the four provincial capitals of Pakistan is listed in Table 10. The monthly average of solar radiation received by the capital of the Baluchistan province (Quetta) is at a minimum value of 3.6 kW·h/m 2 and a maximum amount of 7.65 kW·h/m 2 . The capital of the Sindh province (Karachi) receives a monthly average of solar radiation at a minimum value of 3.39 kW·h/m 2 and a maximum amount of 6.31 kW·h/m 2 . The minimum and maximum values of monthly average solar radiation received by the capital of the KPK province (Peshawar) are 2.4 and 6.35 kW·h/m 2 , respectively. The minimum and maximum values of monthly average solar radiation received by the capital of the Punjab province (Lahore) are 2.8 and 6.27 kW·h/m 2 .Pakistan has a significantly large prospective for harnessing energy from the sun. The only demerit of solar energy generation is the high prices of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which results in its suitability only for areas away from grids. However, Pakistan can maximize potential savings and minimize the consumption of fossil fuels by increasing the domestic utilization of solar thermal technologies in the form of water heaters and cookers. This will eventually improve the living standards of the masses and will also be more environmentally friendly. Also, it will minimize the dependency on fuel fuels domestically and will ultimately lead to a substantial decrease in the oil expenditure of the national treasury. Proper policy-making and organized goal-oriented efforts are required on behalf of the government to increase awareness and to assist and mobilize the people regarding the utilization of solar technology [103].

2) WIND ENERGY RESOURCES
Since the early 20 th century, energy from wind has been utilized to add mechanical power for grinding grains and pumping water. The first wind turbine was developed to generate electricity. Wind power was considered as one of the promising RE sources in the 1990s. Toward the end of the 20 th century, the capacity for wind energy was approximately doubling every three years worldwide. At present, windmills, wind pumps, and wind power plants are effectively working in several countries across the globe. Since the early 1980s, the costs of electricity generated from wind energy have decreased by approximately one-sixth, and the trend appears to continue. The use of wind energy does not cause toxic emissions; moreover, unsurprisingly, the global wind power is one of the rapidly growing RE sources [76].
In Pakistan, wind energy is an appealing RER, whose availability must be studied. For this reason, wind statistics in coastal regions of Pakistan are collected by the Pakistan Meteorological Department [77]. Mountains and coastal areas that have a high possibility of wind are most suited for wind energy usage. The approximately 1,120 km long coast of Pakistan has a population of roughly 10 million people [78]. Near the coastline of Baluchistan and Sindh, the monthly average wind speed reaches up to 7-8 m/s. In Pakistan, the number of operational wind farms is currently negligible. There are plans for producing 700 MW of electricity from wind energy in Gharo (Sindh). The long-term plans are to develop wind power plants of 9.7 GW capacities by 2030 [79].
Several studies were conducted by the Pakistan Meteorological Department to estimate the potential of wind energy across the country. In southern Pakistan, particularly the area near the coasts of Baluchistan and Sindh, commercially utilizable wind energy potential was identified. The analysis of data from 20 sites shows that a 9,700 km 2 area can produce electricity of 43,000 MW by harnessing the wind power potential. The net power density estimated per square kilometer is 4 MW. However, this potential is restricted to 11,000 MW owing to land utilization constraints. Therefore, a suitable area for this potential was calculated to be 2,481 km 2 , resulting in only 26% of the total area based on power density. Reports have summarized that the northern and eastern regions of Pakistan, such as KPK along with Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab, are not favorable for electricity production from wind energy [79].
In 2005, the GoP planned to generate approximately 10% of its electricity from RERs by the end of 2012. However, from 2005 to 2008, owing to economic reasons, no new installed grids of RE were added to the main pool of the power sector. Considering this, in 2008, the government increased the expenditure for RE by up to 5% of the total spending on the power sector until 2030 [79]. The planning details pertaining to wind energy share in the power sector of Pakistan until 2030 are listed in Table 11.
According to the previous discussion, the capacity of global wind energy has been approximately doubled every three years. There is a requirement to have additional speculation and research for the positioning of wind energy projects in Pakistan to overcome the current power shortage. The numerous steps that must be performed include selecting a suitable site, mapping of winds, selecting and manufacturing of wind turbines for a specific site, evaluating the environmental and economic influence of wind turbine installation at a particular location along with the lifecycle charge of a particular position, and using computer software for choosing a specific type of obtainable wind turbine [66].

3) BIOMASS ENERGY RESOURCES
Biomass energy is another RER that does not cause CO 2 or other toxic emissions in the air. Biomass energy can perform a significant role in obtaining a sustainable and distinct energy mix. The organic matter derived from biological organisms (plants and animals) is called biomass. Ever since humans started burning wood for warmth or for cooking food, biomass has been used as an energy source. An estimate shows that with a conversion efficiency of 1% every year, 220 billion dry tons of biomass are produced by photosynthesis globally [5].
Biomass can typically be classified as woody, non-woody, and animal wastes. Woody biomass consists of urban trees, forests, bush trees, agro-industrial plantations, and farm trees. Non-woody biomass constitutes crop wastes such as plant stems, domestic wastes (food, rubbish, and sewage), leaves and straw, and processing residues such as husk, nutshells, sawdust, and bagasse. Animal waste comprises waste from animal husbandry [81]. Pakistan is an agricultural country having a cultivating region of 22.  [83].
The overall power generating potential from different resources of biomass is listed in Table 12. From the table, it can be observed that Pakistan has significant potential for power generation from several biomass resources. The GoP must establish a comprehensive program to capitalize on the availability of biomass potential in the power sector [83]. In 2011-2012, the production of sugarcane was approximately 57 million tons in Pakistan. Pakistan has the potential for almost 3,000 MW of power generation from the sugar industry; however, the current generation is only 700 MW [83].
As per a recent livestock census, the animal (buffaloes, cows, bullocks) count in Pakistan is approximately 51 million [66]. On average, the moderate-sized dung dropping per animal is approximated at 10 kg/day, which can result in 510 million kg of dung per day. While considering only 50% of the dung collection, 255 million kilograms of manure can be collected per day and utilized for biogas production. Therefore, 12.75 million cubic meters of biogas can be generated per day, based on the assumption that 1 m 3 of biogas can be made from 20 kg of dung. Pakistan has the potential for generating 4,761-5,554 MW of power only from manure if all of the biogas produced is utilized in electricity generation. With the potential of generating approximately 5,000 MW from livestock and 3,000 MW from bagasse, biomass can achieve an enormous improvement in the energy mix of the country [83]. Apart from animal dung, the biogas potential can also be explored from poultry wastes, wastage of slaughterhouses, banana stem wastes, paper industry, and street wastes. The residues from the poultry sector are also contemplated as an ideal substrate for biogas generation. In Pakistan, the poultry zone has a prosperous growth rate of 7-8% per year [13].

4) GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIRS
Geothermal energy can be obtained from rocks and water within the earth at a temperature between 8 • C (close to the surface) and above 400 • C (at depths of several kilometers). Most geothermal areas consist of water at moderate temperatures (below 200 • C) that can be used for electricity generation [85]. Geothermal energy produces zero carbon and is emission-free. Geothermal energy is almost a great source of energy, and if used properly, a geothermal power plant can continue to work for more than a century [86]. Specific apparent sources of geothermal energy are hot springs, geysers, volcanoes, and fumaroles. These resources are deep underground and cannot be seen. Different methods are used by geologists to identify geothermal reservoirs [88].
In Pakistan, geothermal manifestations are explored as mud volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs. The promising capabilities of mud volcanoes and hot springs are explored in the country. Many geothermal manifestations are available in Chagai, Karachi, Hyderabad, and northern areas of Pakistan. Northwestern Balochistan has hot springs with hightemperature brines. Hot springs of modest temperature are available in South Balochistan. Hot springs of modest to low temperatures are present in the Indus Basin and Western Sindh zone. Similarly, low-brine-temperature hot springs are present in Southwestern and Northern Punjab. The reservoirs mentioned above are concentrated along the Main Karakoram Thrust (MKT), Main Mantle Thrust (MMT), and Main Boundary Thrust, which were created after the collision of the Eurasian and Indian plates [70].
Several hot springs are present along with the MMT at Burmodin, Tatta Pani, and Sassi, and along with the MKT at Chu Tran, Murtazabad, and Budelas, and other areas. Of these, the temperatures of the Murtazabad and Budelas reservoirs are estimated to range from 172-212 • C. The thermal springs at Murtazabad include the Hakuchar manifestation. Budelas has three geothermal manifestations, of which the one located nearest to the Karakoram granodiorite has the maximum potential. The estimated temperature range of this reservoir is 172-189 • C. The water from this hot spring is nearly at boiling temperature (91 • C) [31]. Two hot springs exist in Karachi, at Mangopir and Karsaz, with temperature ranges of 72-98 • C and 138-170 • C, respectively. The Chicken Dik hot spring is located in the southeastern part of Mashki Chah, at an altitude of 830 m [90]. The temperature of the Chiken Dik hot spring is 29.9 • C. The hot springs in the Chitral area were created owing to the fault system of Hindukush.
In  Table 13.
All over Pakistan, minor geothermal energy sources are accessible, which can be functionalized for hot water supply along with air conditioning of houses and buildings. For demonstration, the Energy Foundation of Pakistan had installed geothermal heat pumps in three distinct regions, i.e., Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore. According to an estimation of the Energy Foundation, the shallow geothermal energy resources available in the entire country can generate more than 60,000 MW. The northern areas of Pakistan, in particular Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan along with Chitral, have an abundance of low-temperature hot water springs that can be directly used for various applications. Additionally, low-temperature hot water springs are available in other provinces of Pakistan, which can be VOLUME 8, 2020 utilized directly in many industrial processes. However, the Energy Foundation anticipated that the direct use of geothermal energy resources at a temperature of less than 90 • C could generate electricity exceeding 30,000 MW. According to an initial estimate by the Energy Foundation, Pakistan can produce electricity of more than 100,000 MW from the total available geothermal resources. However, a comprehensive and thorough study regarding the geothermal energy resources of Pakistan is essential for achieving baseload electricity production [100].

5) WASTE HEAT GENERATION
Waste heat energy is produced in various industrial procedures; however, it is not utilized for any beneficial purpose. Waste heat is generated from hot substances that exit industrial processes, heat transfer from surfaces of heated equipment, and heated gases that are discharged into the atmosphere. The exact quantity of industrial waste heat cannot be adequately determined; however, the estimated results of several works show that approximately 20-50% of the consumption of industrial energy is released in the form of waste heat [92]. The waste heat in the liquid form includes blow-down water, cooling water, heated wash water. Specific other nonapparent waste heat sources are boiler blow-down water, hot surfaces, and steam leaks [93]. Table 14 lists the information regarding the temperature range and characteristics of waste heat sources.
The waste heat recovery power generation (WHRPG) technology was initially implemented in Europe and the USA in the late 60s. WHRPG technology was feasible in the mid-70s and reached peak implementation in the early 80s [94]. The power from waste heat recovery adds no emission to the environment and is considered as clean energy. Waste heat energy is often viewed as more of an improvement in energy efficiency rather than as a source of RE [95]. WHRPG technology generates electricity through a specially designed steam turbine. Industrial waste heat with a low-temperature range of 120-400 • C is used to run the specified generator. The steam is generated by creating mechanical energy for electricity generation [94].
The primary WHRPG technologies, such as steam-based Rankine, Kalina, and organic Rankine cycles, are used worldwide. The waste heat recovery power plant (WHRPP) can use steam-based Rankine cycles, such as a dual pressure system; moreover, the single flash system is used in South Asia and Asia, where water is used as a medium for working, as it is abundant, inexpensive, safe, and environment friendly. At low temperatures, the organic Rankine cycle is a suitable scheme for waste heat recovery and is simple in the configuration. The amalgamation of ammonia and water is used in the Kalina cycle. The power generation process based on the Kalina cycle depends upon the applied pressure and temperature of the mixture [96].
In Pakistan, two cement plants, namely, Fauji Cement Ltd. and Askari Cement Ltd., can generate their electricity by installing WHRPP, as listed in Table 15. The waste heat recovered in Fauji Cement Ltd., as can be observed from the table, can be used to generate electric power of up to 10 MW by installing a WHRPP. Similarly, Askari Cement Ltd. can make electric power of up to 7 MW by installing a WHRPP to reprocess its waste heat. The primary barriers in the installation of WHRPPs in Pakistan are financial, technological, and other obstacles including the capacity of WHRPP for generating significant power [93], [95], [96].
In 2011, Bestway Cement, is the largest cement manufacturer in Pakistan, set up its first power plant for waste heat recovery with a capacity of 15 MW at Chakwal. The company has initiated two eco-friendly waste heat recovery plants of 13.5 MW at a rate of PKR 1.7 billion. Two power plants of 6.0 and 7.5 MW capacity for waste heat recovery were set up by Bestway Cement Limited at Farooqia and Hattar (Haripur district), respectively, in July 2015. Bestway Cement plans to invest approximately $30 million in Pakcem Limited for the operation of a 9.8 MW power plant for waste heat recovery at Kallar Kahar.

D. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Pakistan, an unindustrialized and developing country, is confronting severe resource constraints about energy and immediately requires new sources of energy for its development.  The inference derived from the above deliberation is that although RERs cannot entirely replace conventional energy resources, they may serve to complement the long-term energy requirements of Pakistan to a substantial level. Pak-VOLUME 8, 2020  istan must concentrate on the generation of a considerable amount of energy through renewable sources, as significant amounts of resources exist in the country. However, so far, the total RE influence in the energy mix of the country is less than 1%. If RE equipment were industrialized and RE goods were more cost-effective through economic benefits or subsidies, the RE influence in the energy generation share can be increased by up to 30% when compared to the total energy requirement of the country. After analyzing and examining the published articles, periodicals, apprenticeships, and available data, it can be concluded and recommended that to ensure the sustainable growth of energy production for the future. There is a dire requirement for the expansion of the energy mix in Pakistan. Moreover, the literature review concludes that the power sector in Pakistan is predominantly dependent on conventional energy resources; the average share of conventional resources from 2010 to 2015 in overall generated power was 66.1%. Restricted domestic accessibility and the increase in the prices of fossil fuels will eventually lead to a limited energy supply, which in turn will increase the gap between supply and demand. With these underlying conditions, the country must search for alternative domestic energy sources. The long-term topographical and methodological potential of RERs was projected and reported. Solar energy is the most abundantly available RE in Pakistan, having an irradiance of 15.5 × 1,014 kW h per year with 8-10 h of sunlight a day in most regions of the country. This significant level of solar potential can be efficiently used for solar thermal and solar electric projects. Moreover, wind energy can also overcome the energy deficit of the country by utilizing a suitable area near the coastal lines (an area of 9,700 km 2 has the potential of producing 43,000 MW of power). Also, energy production from biofuels could help minimize the dependency on conventional energy sources in Pakistan. Approximately 81 million tons per year of crop wastes are available in Pakistan, which can be used to generate 45,870 million kW·h of electricity per year. In the sugar industry, Pakistan has the potential for generating almost 3,000 MW of power, whereas only 700 MW is currently generated. Pakistan can generate 4,761-5,554 MW of power using only manure. Geothermal energy resources are abundant in Pakistan. To overcome the long-term energy crisis, the country should consider the practical employment of the abovementioned energy resources. The waste-heat-to-power industry continues to have pronounced potential for producing substantial amounts of clean energy in Pakistan. Regardless of its potential, the progress in this industry has been slow, and the growth is almost stagnant. RERs are directly proportional to the economic upheaval and can promote and maintain the future sustainable energy growth of the country. In the future, RETs can be utilized as a feasible and low-cost method to overcome the energy deficits of Pakistan.

IV. POWER MARKET ANALYSIS
Power market analysis expresses the total power generated by various renewable resources, for example, the hydro, wind, and solar energy resources; thus, the total power consumption (demand) per capita of the country is the power rate [63]. The increase in population and modernization have increased the overall power demand and annual power utilization, respectively. Modernization and per person power consumption have a direct effect on each other; for example, the increment in one demand results in thrust to the other demand. The consumption per person in Pakistan is approximately 457 kW·h [59]. The people of Pakistan are suffering from the energy gap between supply and demand. Energy is an essential element in the financial establishment of Pakistan [4]. Pakistan is one of the developing countries in Asia, and its large population has resulted in an energy shortfall. Fig. 10 illustrates the sector-wise energy utilization of consumers within Pakistan. The consumers are divided into different categories based on their power utilization. The primary categories include the following: (a) industrial, (b) commercial, (c) domestic, (d) transport, and (e) agriculture. The industrial sector consumes most of the energy in the country, which is 42.6% of the total generated energy. The energy consumptions in the agricultural, transport, commercial, and other government sectors are 2, 29.3, 3.7, and 1.9%, respectively [11].   [84]. IPPs with public generation companies contribute approximately 42% of the total power generated in Pakistan [30], [116].

A. CONCLUDING REMARKS
The power sector of Pakistan from 1980 to 1998 was limited in terms of power generation, which was produced by PEPCO. The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) purchased power from NTDC through the Central Power Purchasing Agency. Another company that supplied power to the rest of the country was WAPDA. Afterward, WAPDA was further classified into specific corporations consisting of (a) four generation companies (GENCOs), (b)10 distribution companies (DISCOs), and (c) NTDC. Ten DISCOs are responsible for the distribution of power to Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Hyderabad, Gujranwala, and Sarhad. The electric supply companies are shown in Fig. 12 [84], [116].
WAPDA consists of 14 power generating units, followed by GENCOs, which are divided into four power generating units, and IPPs, which have 28 units that make 6,365 MW and transmit power to NTDC, which is connected to the DISCOs. In 1990, a sudden increase in energy consumption occurred owing to the rapid growth in consumers in Karachi. Owing to this reason, KESC granted permits for the generation, transmission, and supply of electricity in its permitted areas. In 2000, the per capita consumption of electricity increased in the residential sector, while in the industrial sector, the annual use reached a peak value, widening the gap between supply and demand. In 2006, the ADB announced that 45% of the total population of the country was suffering from an energy crisis [84]. NTDC established twelve 500 kV and twenty-nine 220 kV power grids with 5,077 km of 500 kV transmission lines and 7,359 km of 220 kV transmission lines in the country [116].

1) PROVINCE-WISE POWER DISTRIBUTION STATISTICS IN PAKISTAN
The power sector in Pakistan is governed by public GEN-COs, transmission companies, and DISCOs, which supply approximately 42% of the total power generated by the incorporation of IPPs. Power is delivered to 10 Table 16 lists the historical record of the generation capacity in gigawatt hours. The total generation in 2014-2015 was 68,428 GW·h, followed by a whole generation of 71,094 GW·h in 2015-2016. It can be observed that the production is increasing annually; the total capacity in 2016-2017 was 75,437 GW·h. The overall forecast for generation in the year 2022-2023 is 104,578 GW·h in Punjab [84].
PESCO provides electricity to more than 2.6 million users of the districts of KPK. At PESCO systems, the KPK power supplying framework is sustained through 66 and (b) Mardan. The annual per capita consumption forecast is shown in Fig. 17. [84], [115].   Fig. 19 shows the annual consumption per capita of SEPCO [96]. HESCO is isolated into 12 districts of the Sindh territory and operates in four operation circles, namely, (a) Hyderabad, (b) Laar, (c) Nawabshah, and (d) Mirpurkhas. The annual consumption of HESCO is shown in Fig. 20 [87].

• Baluchistan
The power distribution company in Baluchistan is QESCO. WAPDA controls QESCO and, additionally, all the power establishments in Baluchistan. In 2011-2012, the total number of consumers was 515,850, which increased to 530,520 in the year 2012-2013. The annual consumption (kW·h/person) of QESCO per year is shown in Fig. 21 [104]. In 2016-17, VOLUME 8, 2020  [84], [115].  the annual consumption was 574 kW·h/person, and it was projected to be 600 kW·h/person in 2022-23.

V. CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC): ANALYSIS OF CPEC IMPACTS ON SG SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN PAKISTAN A. INTRODUCTION
Owing to energy shortfall, Pakistan faces the problem of disparity between the supply and the demand. Currently, Pakistan is unable to satisfy the needs of its consumers. There is a critical requirement for strict measurements by the GoP to enhance and improve energy production by redefining and reconstructing their policies. Recently, the CPEC agreement between China and Pakistan for the development of various sectors was signed, which will perform a pivotal role in enhancing the economy of Pakistan. From an energy perspective, CPEC incorporates various energy projects to satisfy the energy demands of Pakistan. This section highlights the impacts of CPEC on the energy sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, the geographical areas covered by CPEC, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of CPEC, future of SGs under CPEC, priority energy projects under CPEC, and potential energy sites in the CPEC route is discussed in this section.

B. GEOGRAPHY OF CPEC
CPEC covers a significant area of Pakistan, ranging from Gwadar (Baluchistan) to Kashgar (Western China). This corridor will go through the various parts of Baluchistan, Punjab, Sindh, and KPK. It will reach up to the Khunjarab Pass of Gilgit-Baltistan in the northern part of Pakistan and end in the Xinyang Province of China.
Pakistan has agreed with the Chinese officials to build ''three'' corridors after dynamic consultations. These routes are as follows: 1) Western route 2) Eastern route 3) Central route 4) Western Route: The western route starts from Gwadar and will continue to cover the southern and eastern parts of Baluchistan (separately through Dera Bugti and Khuzdar) as shown in Fig. 22. This route will also pass by certain localities of south Punjab [89]. From Gwadar, this route will pass through Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Kalat, and will end at Quetta (the capital city of Baluchistan province). From Quetta, the western route  will expand to Zhob, D. I. Khan, Bannu, Kohat, and then to Peshawar. The passage will continue to expand to Hassan Abdal, Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra (the principal cities of Hazara Division, KPK). Furthermore, the route will cross the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK; Muzaffarabad) and reach the northern parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, i.e., Hunza, Attabad, and finally it terminates at Khunjrab. The western route will link Iran with Afghanistan through Quetta, Kho-e-Taftan, and Chaman (Baluchistan).

a: EASTERN ROUTE
The eastern route will initiate from Gwadar and will connect Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Ratodero, and Kashmore as depicted in Figure 23 [89]. It will pass through the southern part of the Punjab province and will join Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Faisalabad, Pindi, and Bhatian. From central Punjab, the passage will connect to Islamabad (the capital of Pakistan) and ultimately will follow the same route as the western route of Hassan Abdal, Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra, up to Khunjerab Pass. The eastern route has significant importance as it connects Taxila through Peshawar and Torkham, ultimately connecting to Jalalabad in Afghanistan. Pakistan is planning to connect India through the eastern route through Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Khokhrapar, Zero Point, and the periphery of Wagah (Lahore).

C. SIGNIFICANCE OF CPEC FOR PAKISTAN
Pakistan possesses unusual terrestrial focal points. The borders of Pakistan link South Asia, the Arab world, China, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf. The various alarming VOLUME 8, 2020 Under the CPEC, a $46 billion agreement was signed by China and Pakistan for industrialization activities, which is equivalent to approximately 20% of the overall GDP of Pakistan. In total, the CPEC will incorporate the production of 17,000 MW at the cost of roughly $34 billion [112]. The development of transportation infrastructure, including the reformation of railway tracks between Karachi and Peshawar, is also being considered under the CPEC. The CPEC will incorporate various benefits and remunerations to Pakistan, such as follows: • Highway infrastructure development (3,000 km). • Crude oil refinery set up at Gwadar. • Construction of the Gwadar port and international airport.
• Opening doors for the Pakistani market to enter Europe, Middle East, Gulf countries, Russia, and Africa.
• Telecommunication (installing optical fiber cable from the border of China to Rawalpindi).
• Rehabilitation of existing rail structure in Pakistan. • Energy infrastructure development.
• Research activities (joint research of cotton biotechnology).
The execution of CPEC will enhance the economic, corporate, and geostrategic atmosphere of Pakistan. Moreover, the prominent challenges in Pakistan, such as (a) unemployment, (b) poverty, and (c) the encroachments between the undeveloped areas of Pakistan [51] will be overcome upon successful completion of CPEC projects. The CPEC is a turning point for the economy of Pakistan owing to the introduction of significant trade and financial activities; consequently, this will open a new landscape of development and prosperity for the people of Pakistan and China. Based on the statistical analysis, CPEC will result in more harmony and will strengthen the strategic relationship between Pakistan and China. The CPEC schemes will upgrade the $274 billion GDP of Pakistan by more than 15%. The CPEC funding to various sectors will assist in removing the existing tags and labels that are associated with Pakistan, such as the ''center of terrorism,'' ''most insecure nation,'' and ''a deteriorating country'' [111].
Currently, Pakistan is a modest, less-expensive, developing country. The financial and military aid from China will assist Pakistan in reducing the continually expanding gap between its economic, atomic, and military sectors and that of India. It will also help in enhancing and improving its defense capabilities. The various development projects included in CPEC, such as (a) implementation of energy projects, (b) transportation framework, and (c) infrastructure development will provide benefits to the people of both countries. Further, the CPEC will incorporate the construction of motorways and highways to interconnect both nations easily. The infrastructure developments, such as (a) Gwadar port, (b) the reshaping and redesigning project of Karakoram Highway in the second phase, (c) motorway extension between Karachi and Lahore, (d) Thakot-Havelian motorway, (e) Gwadar port road, (f) Gwadar international airport, and (g) Karachi-Sukkur motorway will enhance and induce cooperation in the joint efforts pertaining to the sectors of energy, business, finance, education, industry, and banking [110].

D. ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS OF CPEC
A SWOT analysis aids in identifying the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats to an organization. Developing a complete awareness of the various conditions will benefit an organization in terms of both tactical planning and decision making. The SWOT technique was initially created for corporates and businesses; however, it is also beneficial in the tasks of analyzing public health, progress, education, and personal development. During the implementation of large corporate verdicts, one of the smartest processes to be performed in the development stage is the execution of a SWOT analysis.
In this subsection, the SWOT analysis of CPEC is conducted as follows: • Strengths a) The geographical location of Pakistan and its potential. b) Potential energy resources in Pakistan. c) Job opportunities for residents in the energy sector. d) Significant development of energy infrastructure in the country.
• Weaknesses a) Lack of long-term and non-interruptive internal (local) and external (foreign) policies. b) Political perspectives. c) Lack of seriousness on project implementation. d) Lack of transparency in fund usage.
• Opportunities a) Significant opportunities for local and foreign investors to invest in the energy sector. b) Iran-Pakistan-China gas pipeline for energy production. After the completion of all the CPEC energy projects, Pakistan is expected to be self-sufficient, and the chronic energy shortfall will be terminated. The completion of the CPEC energy projects will ensure a new era of prosperity and progress in Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan will enjoy uninterrupted power supply, affordable electricity, access to electricity for remote areas, reduction in foreign dependence, and fewer emissions from thermal power plants [62]. After the completion of the CPEC project, Pakistan will enjoy the following pertinent remunerations: • Infrastructure advancement of high-voltage transmission lines.
• Implementation of AMI by incorporating smart metering and monitoring.
• Provision of low electric tariff per unit.
• Ensuring a match between demand and supply.
• Implementation of solar and wind parks for a clean and sustainable environment.
• Substation automation and control.
• Implementation of high-voltage direct current links through DC/AC substations.
• Research and development centers to accommodate pertinent features of SG in CPEC projects.
• Involvement of prosumer activity. Owing to CPEC, Pakistan will be able to modify and invest in the power sector to achieve the new goals in advanced power technology. CPEC will cover all deficiencies that exist in the power sector of Pakistan and will aid in the implementation of the SG system in Pakistan. The implementation of SG will be a more feasible task for the energy sector. The SG will revolutionize the different aspects of energy infrastructure. Further, SGs will manage and eradicate the problem of energy theft with the help of smart meters that will communicate with the central control room. This will require an AMI so that the electric company can determine how the load produced is being consumed and can reduce the line losses due to electricity theft. Owing to this setup, every consumer will have to pay his bills regularly. The primary advantages of the SG are that load prediction, and scheduling is possible for optimizing and improving the power generation and consumption. Another vital feature of SG is that it provides a platform to integrate the RE sources with the existing power grid. This will encourage prosumer activities by motivating the users to install solar panels at homes to produce energy of their own; moreover, the surplus energy can be exported back to the electric company.
The implementation of SG is a considerably captivating and challenging task, particularly when Pakistan is facing ''12-18'' hours of load shedding, circular debt, trampling economy, electricity theft, corruption, and derated power sources. However, upgrading the power grid infrastructure under the umbrella of CPEC will be a challenging task. It will require a significant amount of investment and cautious planning to streamline and modernize the existing power grid, which has persisted untouched for decades.

F. CPEC PRIORITY ENERGY PROJECTS
The energy projects under CPEC will assist in matching the energy supply with demand. In this regard, priority energy projects are included in the CPEC execution timeline. The priority projects are listed in Table 19. The completion of the priority energy projects will boost the energy sector of Pakistan and will make Pakistan an energy sufficient country. Moreover, the completion of these projects will provide cheap and clean energy for the residents of Pakistan. The power quality will be enhanced, and the prominent problem of load shedding will be reduced. Further, the details of the priority energy projects under CPEC are provided in this subsection.

1) COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN SAHIWAL, PUNJAB
An IPP will finance the Sahiwal Coal project located in Sahiwal (Punjab) under the supervision of the Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB). Coal (imported) will be the primary source of energy. Two plants will be installed with a total capacity of 1,320 MW (660 MW each). Huaneng Shandong Rui Group from China is the financing company for this project. The estimated cost for this project is US$ 1,600 million [62].

2) THAR SURFACE MINE OF COAL FIELD, BLOCK-II IN THAR, SINDH
Surface mining is a wide-ranging category of mining in which overlying soil and rocks that cover the mineral deposits are removed. This project is located in Thar Block-II (Sindh), and the open-pit mining technique will be adopted under the supervision of the Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB). The estimated cost is US$ 1,470 million and will be sponsored by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company [62].

3) HUBCO COAL POWER PLANT
A 660 MW, coal power plant, will be installed in the Hub region of the province of Baluchistan. Imported coal is the primary energy input, and the required cost for the project is US$ 970 million. HUBCO coal power plant will generate 660 MW of electricity. An IPP will finance the entire scheme under the supervision of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). The core sponsors are Hub Power Company with the Ministry of Water and Power as a coordinating sponsor [62].

4) GWADAR COAL/LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS/OIL POWER PROJECT
The estimated cost of this project is US$ 600 million, and it is supervised by the Gwadar Port Authority and Gwadar Developmental Authority. The site is located in Gwadar (Baluchistan). This project started its operations before March 31, 2017. Coal, liquified natural gas, and oil are the primary sources of energy for the plant, and the total generating capacity is 300 MW [62].

5) SINO-SINDH RESOURCE LIMITED (SSRL) MINE-MOUTH POWER PLANT
PPIB is the administrator for the 1,320 MW Sino-Sindh Resource Limited (SSRL) mine-mouth power plant at Thar Block-I in Sindh. The expected cost is US$ 2,000 million and will be financed by IPPs [62].

6) ENGRO COAL-FIRED PROJECT
Thar is well renowned globally for its coal reservoirs. The primary source of energy for this project will be coal, which will be provided from the existing reserves in Thar. The Engro Thar coal-fired power plant is located at Thar Block-II in the province of Sindh. Four power plants will be installed, each of 330 MW capacity (total capacity of 1,320 MW). This project will cost approximately US$ 2,000 million and will be financed by IPPs under the supervision of PPIB. The project will be sponsored by CMEC and Engro Power Generation with the Ministry of Water and Power as a coordinating ministry [62].

7) QUAID-E-AZAM SOLAR PARK, BAHAWALPUR
Quaid-e-Azam (QA) Solar Park is located in Bahawalpur, Punjab. PV solar technology is used for power generation. The total capacity of this project is 1,000 MW, with an estimated cost of US$ 1,350 million, which is financed by IPPs. The executive agency is Hanergy/QA Solar Power (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan, and PPDB supervises it. This project is divided into three phases. The commercial operation date (COD) of the first phase (100 MW) is being achieved, and the second and third phases are under test [62].

8) UNITED ENERGY PAKISTAN WIND FARM, JHIMPIR
HydroChina (for engineering, procurement, and construction) Goldwind, China (is the supplier), and United Energy Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. is going to sponsor the Jhimpir 100 MW wind farm. AEDB will supervise the US$ 250 million project with the Ministry of Water and Power as a coordinating ministry [62].

9) SACHAL WIND FARM, JHIMPIR
HydroChina and Arif Habib Corporation Limited, as the administrative company, will invest US$ 134 million for the production of a 50 MW wind farm in Jhimpir, Sindh [62].

10) KAROT HYDROPOWER STATION
The 720 MW Karot Hydropower station will be installed on River Jhelum, situated near the AJK/Punjab province. SMEC Holdings Limited (Australia) / China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) and Associated Technologies (Pvt) Ltd will invest approximately US$ 1,420 million under the supervision of PPIB [62].

11) SUKI KINARI HYDROPOWER STATION
This hydro project is located at River Kunhar, a tributary of River Jhelum in the district of Mansehra, KPK. The assessed cost is US$ 1,802 million and will be executed by the Mott McDonald of UK, Coney Blair of France / Al Jomaih Holding company (LLC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Eden Inc. Berhad, Malaysia, under the supervision of PPIB [62].

12) TRANSMISSION LINE FROM MATIARI TO LAHORE
The China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co. Ltd. (CET), a subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China, will invest approximately US$ 1,500 million for the Matiari to Lahore transmission line. The project will install ±660 kW bipole high-capacity digital communications with converter and grounding electrode stations, and it will be supervised by NTDC [62].

13) PORT QASIM ELECTRIC COMPANY COAL-FIRED POWER PROJECT
This project is located in Sindh at Port Qasim. The primary energy source is coal, which will be imported from neighboring countries; further, the existing coal reserves of Pakistan can also be used. Two plants will be installed (each of 660 MW capacity), with a total capacity of 1,320 MW. The estimated cost is US$ 1,980 million. PPIB has been allocated the task of supervising the project with Sinhydro Resource Ltd. and Al Mirqab as the executing companies [62].

G. ENERGY PROJECTS ACTIVELY ENDORSED BY CPEC
This subsection highlights the actively promoted energy projects under CPEC. Upon completion of priority/early harvest energy projects, the energy supply is expected to match the energy demand, and Pakistan will become an energy self-sustained country. Moreover, the energy projects under future consideration are expected to enable Pakistan to export electric energy to neighboring countries. Table 20  Gaddani power park project will have an installed capacity of 1,320 MW and will cost US$ 3,960 million. The project is still under study. The Kohala hydel project will be sited at Jhelum River near Muzaffarabad, AJK. The estimated cost of the project is US$ 2,300 million, and CTGC sponsors it. The feasibility study is at the first stage, and NEPRA will announce the tariff. The land acquisition process has started, and the projected COD was 2013. Thar M Mouth Oracle will be situated at Thar, Sindh, with an estimated generation capacity of 1,320 MW. The project will cost approximately US$ 1,300 million. For the Muzaffargarh Coal Power Project, the coal will be imported for power generation. The PPDB will supervise the project; however, the sponsors have not yet been confirmed. The total production will be 1,320 MW, and the estimated cost is US$ 1,600 million [62].

H. POTENTIAL ENERGY SITES ON CPEC ROUTE
The CPEC routes include various cities with potential energy sources, namely, (a) Islamabad, (b) Quetta, (c) Bahawalpur, (d) Karachi, (e) Lahore, and (f) Peshawar. These cities possess RE potential that can enhance energy production and perform a vital role in overcoming the chronic energy shortage VOLUME 8, 2020 of Pakistan. The energy potential of these sites has been investigated using the hybrid optimization model for multiple energy resources (HOMER) software [109] and the NREL database [125]. This work emphasizes the solar and wind potentials of these cities along with the clearance index of the sites and temperature curve to present the climatic changes throughout the year. The solar energy profile, wind energy profile, temperature curve, and clearance index graph of each of the cities mentioned above are provided to illustrate the energy potential of these cities. Finally, the overall solar potential, wind potential, and climatic behavior of Pakistan are incorporated.

1) ISLAMABAD
Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, performs a vital role in the CPEC projects from the perspective of energy. For the future investigation of solar-and wind-based productions, the solar clearance index and annual solar radiance are determined, as illustrated in Fig. 26. To consider the wind potential in Islamabad for future deployment of wind energy in CPEC, this subsection shows the wind potential with average wind speed and the annual temperature curve. Islamabad receives a moderate amount of solar radiation. The average daily radiation is 5.243 kW·h/m 2 /day in April, May, June, and July; the total daily radiation at its maximum value is 6.31, 7.27, 7.54, and 6.44 kW·h/m 2 /day, respectively. The data of Islamabad was obtained from the HOMER software. The data illustrates that a considerable amount of solar energy potential is present in the locality and is utilized in a couple of sites, namely, (a) PEC [102] and (b) Pakistan Parliament. The solar setup of the solar energy system at PEC generates 356.16 kW of electricity. This setup incorporates an on-grid solar project that possesses an arrangement of net metering, which allows the beneficiaries to export surplus electricity to IESCO. Therefore, other projects such as solar and wind parks can be installed to utilize the never-ending energy sources under the CPEC energy schemes in Islamabad. The economic and environment-friendly wind energy must be exploited and utilized to overcome the long-lasting energy shortfall in Pakistan. Islamabad can be considered as a potential site for installing the wind energy parks owing to the developed infrastructure. Islamabad possesses a significant amount of wind energy potential, which can be exploited for energy production to eliminate the energy shortfall. This zone has a moderate wind speed that can efficiently operate the wind park. According to new research, different wind turbines have been designed that can run at a wind speed of 3-4 m/s for electricity generation [3], [122]. From Fig. 26, it can be observed that the minimum amount of wind speed is 5.44 m/s in August, which can be exploited for energy production. The daily average temperature curve of Islamabad is also illustrated, describing the climatic behavior of the region. The climate has direct and indirect effects and is a crucial parameter for the solar clearance index, solar radiation, and wind speed.

2) QUETTA
Quetta is in northwestern Baluchistan near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and is a major trade hub between the FIGURE 26. Solar clearness index, solar radiation (kW·h/m 2 /day), wind speed (m/s), and temperature curve ( • C) measured at Islamabad [125].

FIGURE 27
. Solar clearness index, solar radiation (kW·h/m 2 /day), wind speed (m/s), and temperature curve ( • C) measured at Quetta [125]. VOLUME 8, 2020 two nations. Quetta is situated near Bolan Pass, also known as a gateway from Central Asia to South Asia [120]. The average solar clearance index of Quetta is approximately 55-60% annually, and its variation depends on climatic drifts. The solar clearance index is illustrated in Fig. 27 and depicts the average solar radiation of Quetta. This region receives daily solar radiation of 5.21, 6.03, 6.74, 6.46, and 5.57 kW·h/m 2 /day in April, May, June, July, and August, respectively. The solar radiation in Quetta is illustrated in Fig. 27 for the entire year; additionally, the wind energy potential was examined and can be utilized to overcome the energy crisis. The temperature curve demonstrates the climatic conditions of the zone and provides an insight into the terrain.

3) BAHAWALPUR
Bahawalpur is located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Bahawalpur is the 12 th largest city in Pakistan, with an estimated population of 798,509. The city is also located near the ancient Derawar Fort in the desert near the Indian border and serves as a gateway to the Lal Suhanra National Park in Pakistan. QA Solar Park is located in Bahawalpur, Punjab. The region possesses significant solar and wind energy potentials, as illustrated in Fig. 28. Under the CPEC project, 100 MW was generated in the first phase of the project [62]. PV solar technology is used for power generation. The total capacity of this project is 1,000 MW. Similarly, the wind potential should be utilized for power generation, as illustrated in Fig. 28, which demonstrates a viable potential in the region of Bahawalpur.

4) LAHORE
After Karachi, Lahore is the second most populous city of Pakistan. Lahore is situated in the northeastern part of the Punjab province. According to the statistics of 2014, Lahore contributes significantly to the GDP of Pakistan, i.e., approximately $58.14 billion [121]. In comparison with other cities, Lahore has considerable solar potential, which can be incorporated into the existing grid to assist in reducing the load shedding hours. The solar clearance index, solar potential, wind speed, and temperature curve are illustrated in Fig. 30. The solar energy at this site has significant potential for energy generation, reaching up to 6-7.34 kW·h/m 2 /day in the hot summer season, which can be exploited for RE production.

5) PESHAWAR
Peshawar, the capital of KPK, serves as an economic hub and administrative center to FATA. The historic Khyber Pass, a gateway to Afghanistan, is also located near Peshawar. This region receives a daily average solar radiation of 7.07, 7.68, and 6.96 kW·h/m 2 /day in May, June, and July, respectively. The Peshawar region also receives a high wind speed; therefore, a hybrid system of wind turbines and solar panels can result in a considerable difference in the energy-deficient country. The energy potential of locality is illustrated in Fig. 31 with other parameters.

6) OVERALL PAKISTAN
This subsection presents the solar clearness index, solar potential, wind potential, and temperature curve for the entire country of Pakistan (Fig. 32) to provide an insight into the overall averaged potential of the country. Pakistan receives solar radiation of 6.46, 6.57, and 6.1 kW·h/m 2 /day in May, June, and July, respectively. The southern region of Pakistan has a significant potential for wind and solar powers, notably the 1,050 km coastal line near the Arabian sea. The average wind speed of Pakistan is above 4.5 m/s, making the locality favorable for wind energy production along with the solar power generation system.

I. BENEFITS ANALYSIS OF CPEC ENERGY PROJECTS FOR PAKISTAN
The energy projects mentioned in Table 19 and Table 20 are of great importance to Pakistan that will connect 10,000 MW into the national grid [62]. Pakistan was facing a severe shortfall of 7000 MW in 2011 that incurred severe mismatched between demand and supply, higher energy tariff per unit, extra loading on power equipment, and interrupted power supply with some areas facing 10 to 12 hours load shedding per day [125]. The CPEC focused energy sector of Pakistan and started various energy projects with an overall capacity of 10,000 MW [62]. Some of the energy projects completed during the last three years (2017-2020) that resulted in the connection of approximately 3555 MW in the national grid listed in Table 19 and 20 [62]. The timely completion of these projects resulted in zero shortfalls in 2019 and exceeded the supply versus demand by 1392 MW in 2020 [126]. As a result, Pakistan is enjoying low electric tariff per unit, clean energy, and abundant energy to easily overcome the increasing demand for industrial and residential energy requirements. The CPEC projects will provide the potential for industrial expansion to earn GDP growth and attract potential investors for establishing and expending the industrial sector within Pakistan. Further, the energy requirements increased during and after Covid-19 as most of the jobs relies on working at home. The software industry is also flourishing within Pakistan that has its requirement of energy and which will play a major role in an economic revolution in Pakistan. The CPEC energy projects will provide some pertinent benefits, such as (a) supply and demand match, (b) zero electricity theft as a result of deploying smart metering infrastructure, (c) clean energy like solar and wind farms, (d) prosumers activity, (e) low electric tariff per unit, and (f) reduced line losses.

J. CONCLUDING REMARKS
CPEC is expected to emerge as a revolutionary project for the energy sector of Pakistan. The development of RE systems is planned across the eastern, western, and central routes. These distributed energy systems will provide ancillary services to FIGURE 28. Solar clearness index, solar radiation (kW·h/m 2 /day), wind speed (m/s), and temperature curve ( • C) measured at Bahawalpur [125]. the local grids, such as power support, voltage support, and load sharing, and management. The various energy projects listed above will be completed soon; thus, the energy gen-eration system of Pakistan will be strengthened. Moreover, the existing virtual power plants, IPPs, WAPDA, and powerproducing agencies (KEPCO, GENCOs, PESCO, and others) FIGURE 30. Solar clearness index, solar radiation (kW·h/m 2 /day), wind speed (m/s), and temperature curve ( • C) measured at Lahore [125]. will reduce the burden on the economy of Pakistan with the implementation of green system technology. Furthermore, local energy demand will be satisfied, and the surplus can be exported to neighboring countries. Thus, the economy of the country will grow and flourish.
Some of the energy projects mentioned in Table 19 and Table 20 are operational and resulted in some pertinent benefits mentioned in the aforementioned subsection [62].
The timely completion of all CPEC energy projects will fulfill the requirements of SG implementation that includes the upgradation of the conventional grid, devise policies for SG implementation including energy market, independent energy providers, prosumers, and developing the government policies to recognize energy sector as a sector and provides the physical base for SG implementation. Smart meters are already implemented in Pakistan that provides  Overall solar clearness index, solar radiation (kW·h/m 2 /day), wind speed (m/s), and temperature curve ( • C) for Pakistan [125].
the opportunity to prosumer to export extra energy to the main grid and earn an incentive in terms of load adjustment. However, there are still different level policies required to implement and provide fully functional SG infrastructure and the possible developments must be noticed after the completion of all CPEC energy projects that will boost the industrial sector and will provide access to the global economy. The expected time of completion of projects mentioned in Table 19 and 20 is 2026 [26] and implementation of SG infrastructure will be ensured a few years after the completion of these projects.

VI. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
The conventional power grid infrastructure in Pakistan has resulted in various alarming issues, such as (a) supply and demand mismatch, (b) energy deficiency, (c) unprotected power system, (d) inferior power quality, and (e) power T&D challenges. These problems can be solved through reduced losses in the distribution network and improvement in DSM technology for commercial, domestic, and industrial sectors. The existing power generation capacity of Pakistan is insufficient to satisfy the demands of the country. These challenges and inefficiencies have motivated the GoP to shift from the conventional power system to SGs. The transition from the existing power system to SGs will improve the pertinent features of the power sector of Pakistan. Presently, there is a critical requirement for the implementation of energy projects to enhance the power generation capacity and thus match the supply with the demand, which is a prerequisite for the installation of SGs, which is beneficial for Pakistan. The supply and demand must be balanced before moving toward SGs. The study signifies the advents and the advantages of SG for the developing countries like Pakistan, highlighting the global trends, applications, and technology development in the field of smart grid in different countries.
A detailed review of the global market, investment by various countries, and SG implementation all over the world was presented initially. After global statistical analysis, the power market of Pakistan was discussed, and various renewable energy market statistics were presented. The structure of electricity sector in Pakistan is also overviewed, in which the generation and consumptions were highlighted. The energy demand statistics and available potential of conventional energy and RE were analyzed. It was concluded that there is a shortage of electrical energy in Pakistan and conventional resources are unable to fulfil the requirements. Analysis of the CPEC project were presented in this paper, which concluded that the energy projects will satisfy the demands of the country and will also assist in the implementation of SGs in Pakistan. SWOT analysis was performed for evaluation of the present conditions of the power system in Pakistan, and SGs were considered. The analysis showed that an efficient planning and considerable investments in the power sector are required to exploit the energy resources of Pakistan. CPEC can perform a significant role in overcoming the energy crisis in Pakistan.
The analysis proved that. the end product of the energy projects completion under CPEC will ensure the implementation of SG features, such as (a) AMI, (b) low power tariffs, (c) prosumers activities, (d) penetration of RERs into the national grid, and (e) DSM. Further, the distributed energy and essential SG requirement, including smart meters and other appliances, were discussed to facilitate SG implementation. The role of CPEC was elaborated to highlight the future implementation of SGs in Pakistan. In summary, it was concluded that the advent of the SG will lead to a more proficient and environmentally reliable future for Pakistan with wellenhanced power services. However, before the vision of a bright future becomes factual, Pakistan still has a long way to go. Pakistan requires improvements in the field of SG for a promising future. Soon, after the completion of CPEC energy projects, we plan to investigate and analyze the impact of CPEC projects on the SG system. We will also incorporate the design and modeling of a wide-area SG system with respect to Pakistan with a focus on barriers and limitations to SG implementation. The implementation of advanced linear control schemes and cloud data centers for SGs will increase the energy potential of Pakistan, and we will analyze these advance control schemes and cloud computing for distributed data centers in the wide-area SG system.
In near future, several case studies will be performed on the different renewable energy potential sites of Pakistan to analyze the sustainability of the standalone or grid connected systems. The study will help the authorities or investors to identify the promising sites for the installation of renewable energy systems and assist the deficiency of energy sector of Pakistan and pave a reliable road for the incorporation of SG.