The electric vehicle (EV) market in Pakistan faces a blend of challenges and opportunities as it transitions towards a more sustainable future. The transport sector, a significant consumer of carbon-intensive fuels (gasoline, diesel, CNG), contributes substantially to global GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. In Pakistan, the shift to EVs is driven by the need to curtail the high cost of imported fossil fuels and the need to reduce carbon emissions. In this backdrop, this study conducts a market assessment of major challenges and opportunities that exist for EV uptake while also developing decarbonization pathways through scenario-based modeling using the Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP). Through a mixed-method approach, this study reveals that the key hurdles include the lack of charging infrastructure, the high costs of EVs, limited domestic production, and insufficient public awareness. Overcoming these challenges requires coordinated efforts in policymaking, infrastructure development, and public education. The successful adoption of EVs promises enhanced energy security, reduced environmental impacts, and economic benefits through decreased oil imports and lower operational costs.

Over the past decade, the integration of desiccant technology with evaporative cooling methods has proven to be highly effective and efficient in providing comfortable indoor environments. The performance of desiccant-based direct evaporative cooling (DEC) systems is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, and their output behavior varies across multiple climatic zones. It is not easy to assess the system performance in numerous climatic zones as it is a time-consuming process. The current study focuses on determining the feasibility of a solid desiccant integrated with a direct evaporative cooler (SDI-DEC) for three different climatic zones of Pakistan: Lahore (hot and humid), Islamabad (hot and semi-humid) and Karachi (moderate and humid). To serve this purpose, a specially designed controlled climate chamber with an integrated air handling unit (AHU) was installed to create multiple environmental conditions artificially. It could also provide global climatic conditions under temperature and absolute humidity ranges of 10 °C to 50 °C and 10 g/kg to 20 g/kg, respectively. The weather conditions of the selected cities were artificially generated in the climate chamber. Based on different operating conditions, such as inlet air temperature, humidity and regeneration temperature, the performance of the system was estimated using performance indicators like COP, dehumidification effectiveness, solar fraction and supply air conditions. Results showed that the maximum temperature achieved from solar collectors was about 70 °C from collectors with an area of 9.5 m². Moreover, the observations showed that when the regeneration temperature was increased from 60 °C to 80 °C, the COP of the system decreased about 41% in a moderate and humid climate, 28% in a hot and semi-humid environment and 23% in a hot and humid climate. The results revealed that an SDI-DEC system has the potential to overcome the humidity and cooling loads of the multiple climatic scenarios of Pakistan.

This study conducts a comprehensive investigation into prospective policy alternatives within Pakistan’s power sector using the PAK-TIMES model, targeting the critical challenges of energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Focused on the period from 2022 to 2050, the research evaluates the impact of various policies on energy consumption, supplies, carbon emissions, and expenditures in alignment with Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) directed at combatting climate change. The study explores three distinct scenarios: a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, along with five policy (5% Eff, 10% Eff, 15% REN, 30% REN, 50% REN) scenarios categorized into energy efficiency and renewable integration. The first scenario concentrates on the deployment of energy-efficient devices, while the second scenario delves into diverse levels of renewable energy integration. Key results reveal that energy demand is projected to surge substantially under the BAU scenario, increasing significantly from 3459 PJ in 2022 to 7912 PJ by 2050. In contrast, scenarios prioritizing energy efficiency can potentially curb the total energy supply by 2.3%, while renewable energy integration can expand up to 1.3% compared to business-as-usual by 2050. These alternative scenarios also exhibit the potential to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector by up to 15%. Notably, the PAK-TIMES model emerges as a valuable decision support tool for the Pakistani government to facilitate the execution of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies aimed at fulfilling its NDCs, while also contributing to the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). The study underscores the pivotal role of policy interventions in simultaneously mitigating energy challenges and combatting climate change for sustainable development.

This study explores the multifaceted approach required to promote womens empowerment through micro-hydropower projects (MHPPs) in the northern regions of Pakistan. By integrating education, skill development, economic opportunities, healthcare access, community engagement, infrastructure development, and legal support, the research outlines how MHPPs can significantly enhance women’s socio-economic status. Using both quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights from consultative discussions, the findings highlight the positive impacts and challenges faced by women. The results demonstrate the potential of MHPPs to empower women, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable development. The study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive strategy that includes education, healthcare, and community engagement to maximize the benefits of MHPPs for women empowerment.

Inertial microfluidics has gained significant attention for cell counting applications due to its simplicity, high throughput, and precision. This study utilized an inertial flow microfluidic device to count blood cell-sized microparticles, simulating normal and diseased conditions. The device could focus on and count cells sized between 7 µm and 16 µm while being observed under optical microscopes, with controlled flow rates from 1 to 15 µL/min. Suspensions of cells with ratios of 600:1 for normal conditions and 400:1 for diseased conditions were studied in microchannels at different flow rates. The methodology for counting involved using a syringe pump for precise flow actuation and employing an image-based particle counting technique through optical microscopy, utilizing the passive technique of inertial microfluidics. Results were compared using two optical microscopes across both suspension types. The key findings showed that at a 600:1 ratio of 8 µm and 15 µm cells, counts of 6.45 × 10⁷ cells/mL and 1.10 × 10⁷ cells/mL, respectively, while in the 400:1 ratio of both cells, counts of 4.5 × 10⁷ cells/mL and 2.16 × 10⁷ cells/mL, respectively, were achieved at optimal parameters. This study employed an inertial flow microfluidic device to count microparticles the size of blood cells. We assessed the counting performance using optical microscopy at two different cell ratios and validated our results against hemocytometer counts. Our findings demonstrate that the channel size 150 µm and the flow rate at 1 µL/min provided the optimal counting accuracy for both particle sizes. This device offers an efficient and adaptable solution for accurate multi-cell counting under optimized conditions and supporting applications in resource-limited medical diagnostics.