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.

This study investigates the role of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in expediting energy transition in Pakistan, specifically during its second phase of development, i.e., CPEC 2.0. The study provides an overview of energy projects under CPEC, detailing the diverse sources contributing to the energy mix, highlighting China’s significant investments in green energy and its pivotal role in global renewable energy transition. A mixed-method approach is applied; the research integrates secondary data analysis with consultative discussions and key informant interviews. Findings underscore China’s pivot towards green investment, exemplified by significant commitments to clean energy infrastructure. The paper further analyzes challenges and opportunities for Pakistan under CPEC 2.0, emphasizing the imperative nature of regulatory consistency, debt restructuring, and the cultivation of public–private partnerships. Recommendations encompass policy coherence, debt management strategies, and collaboration among pertinent ministries to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth facilitated by CPEC.

This study investigates the gendered implications of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC 2.0, focusing on risks and opportunities for women in the country’s green industrial transition. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines secondary research with multi-stakeholder consultations, including engagement with SEZ authorities, Chinese investors, and women’s professional networks, the paper examines how legal ambiguity, defeminization, and occupational segregation restrict women’s participation and mobility in SEZs. Drawing on global comparative evidence and Pakistan’s specific legal and institutional gaps, the paper argues that SEZs can support gender-equitable industrialization if reforms are integrated into their design and governance. It recommends introducing mandatory gender equity plans in zone licensing, providing targeted skills training for women in high-tech sectors, operationalizing Pakistan’s National Gender Policy Framework within SEZ development, and embedding the Zone Social Responsibility (ZSR) framework across all SEZs to ensure long-term inclusion and empowerment.