Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Transport Sector

This fact sheet outlines greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies for Pakistan's transport sector, which contributed approximately 11% of the country's emissions in 2012. It projects a significant rise in emissions by 2030 and evaluates several high-priority mitigation options, including efficiency norms for vehicles, shifting traffic from road to rail, implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and improving car maintenance.

• Transport sector emissions in Pakistan are projected to increase by 128% between 2012 and 2030, rising from approximately 35.4 MtCO2e to 80.7 MtCO2e. Road passenger vehicles and road freight vehicles are the primary sources, with projected 2030 emissions of 45.2 MtCO2e and 30.6 MtCO2e respectively.
• The most impactful high-priority mitigation measure is the introduction of efficiency norms for passenger cars, taxis, and vans, which could reduce GHG emissions by 7.45 MtCO2e by 2030, representing a 9.2% reduction from the Business As Usual (BAU) scenario.
• Shifting transport from road to rail is a priority option to address the fact that 96% of inland freight and 92% of passenger traffic currently rely on roads. While the national target is to increase the rail share of freight to 20%, it has actually dropped to under 1%. Modernizing the system with an estimated capital cost of USD 3.45 billion could reduce 2030 emissions by 2.25 MtCO2e.
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are being planned or implemented in cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, and Multan to replace inefficient low-capacity minibuses. The document assumes 300 km of BRT will be built by 2030 at a cost of approximately USD 4 million per km, potentially reducing GHG emissions by 0.19 MtCO2e.
• Improving car maintenance through engine tuning and tire inflation is identified as a cost-effective measure with low payback periods for owners (three to four months). This option is projected to reduce 2030 emissions by 0.17 MtCO2e.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Transport Sector. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Transport-sector-.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Transport Sector. n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Transport-sector-.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Transport Sector |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Transport-sector-.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndgreenhouse, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Transport Sector}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Transport-sector-.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }