SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SOLAR POWER SECTOR IN RURAL PAKISTAN: CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL

Abstract

By expert estimates Pakistan has 50 million people living without electricity. Since the 1950s successive governments have launched various programs to address this issue, with limited success. Other South Asian countries have fared better in this regard, and the success of off-grid electricity solutions provided by social entrepreneurs in these countries could provide a template for Pakistan, where quite a few social entrepreneurs are already working in this space.

This research aims to explore the factors that have led social entrepreneurs to be successful in implementing rural electrification solutions using solar power. The study will be focused on Pakistani social entrepreneurship but will also incorporate some success stories from other South Asian countries.