Patterns of Household Energy Sources in Rural Pakistan

Abstract

Household energy consumption plays a vital role in improving living standards, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of rural communities. However, many rural households in Pakistan continue to rely on a combination of traditional and modern energy sources due to differences in socioeconomic conditions, infrastructure, and access to energy resources. This study aimed to examine the patterns of household energy sources used for cooking, heating, and lighting in rural District Chitral and to investigate the association between household characteristics and energy choices. A quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Primary data were collected from household heads using a structured questionnaire, while descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were employed to analyze the data and examine the relationships between household characteristics and energy sources. The findings indicate that traditional biomass, particularly firewood, remains the dominant source of energy for cooking and heating, whereas electricity is the primary source for lighting. The study further reveals that households commonly practice energy stacking by combining traditional and modern fuels to satisfy different domestic energy needs. Household energy choices were found to be significantly associated with several demographic, socioeconomic, and accessibility factors, including education, occupation, household income, electricity availability, and proximity to energy resources. The study concludes that improving access to affordable and reliable modern energy, together with socioeconomic development and infrastructure expansion, is essential for promoting a gradual transition towards cleaner household energy use in rural Pakistan.