SUJAWAL: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Sindh have jointly inaugurated Pakistan\u2019s first biomass energy demonstration plant in Sujawal district under the Global Environment Facility-funded Promotion and Application of Sustainable Biomass Energy Technologies in Pakistan (PASBET) project.<\/p>\n
The project is being implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC). The inauguration took place in Sujawal, Sindh, on 30 October 2026.<\/p>\n
PASBET is a five-year initiative worth US$3.5 million aimed at promoting sustainable biomass energy technologies to support rural livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ease pressure on forest resources in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n
The Sujawal facility, located in Pinnah Reserved Forest, is the first of four demonstration sites planned under the programme. The sites are intended to demonstrate scalable woody biomass-based energy technologies.<\/p>\n
According to the project details, the plant will convert forested, non-forested and crop residues, including pruned branches, rice straw and cotton sticks, into fuel pellets. These pellets will be used in cookstoves, help meet other rural energy requirements and contribute to sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan does not have to choose between meeting rural energy needs and protecting its forests. This plant shows how locally available residues can be turned into cleaner fuel, local opportunity and a more sustainable energy model. The task now is to make that model work at scale, with communities, government and markets moving together,\u201d said Dr Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan.<\/p>\n
During the inauguration, 130 fuel-efficient cookstoves designed to run on biomass pellets were handed over to local households. In addition, 20 nursery toolkits were distributed among community groups.<\/p>\n
The cookstoves provide an alternative to conventional fuelwood-based cooking, while the nursery toolkits are meant to support community efforts to develop sustainable biomass resources over time.<\/p>\n
Community participation and women\u2019s engagement form an important part of the project. Roshni Tanzeem, a community organisation from Muhammad Hassan Jakhro village, assisted in community engagement, selection of stove recipients and nursery development.<\/p>\n
PASBET will also work to strengthen local skills and explore livelihood opportunities across the biomass value chain, including biomass preparation, pellet handling, transportation, sales and plant operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cPinnah Reserved Forest demonstrates how forest and agricultural residues can create livelihoods through pellet production, community nurseries and efficient cookstoves, supporting sustainable forest management and enhancing the indigenous plantations. The Government of Sindh welcomes this first UNDP-PASBET demonstration plant and will build on Sujawal\u2019s lessons in community involvement and residue management to scale up cleaner rural energy and healthier forests across the province,\u201d said Mr Muhammad Riaz Wagon, Chief Conservator, Forest and Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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