ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first biomass energy demonstration plant has become operational in Sajawal, Sindh, to support rural livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ease pressure on forest resources.

Located in Pinnah Reserved Forest, the plant was set up under the Global Environment Facility-funded Promotion and Application of Sustainable Biomass Energy Technologies in Pakistan (PASBET) project, being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.

UNDP and the Sindh government jointly inaugurated the plant, which is the first of four demonstration sites planned under the initiative to showcase scalable woody biomass-based energy technologies.

PASBET is a five-year, $3.5 million project that will promote sustainable biomass energy technologies to support rural livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ease pressure on forest resources across Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and KP.

“Pakistan 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,” said UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Samuel Rizk.

Pinnah Reserved Forest demonstrates how forest and agricultural residues can create livelihoods through pellet production, community nurseries and efficient cook-stoves, supporting sustainable forest management and enhancing the indigenous plantations, UNDP said in a statement on Monday.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026