THE modern world is advancing at an unprecedented pace, powered by energy.

Energy lies at the heart of every human activity. In physics, it is defined as the ability to perform work; in economics, it energizes households, industry, and services. An economy, meanwhile, is the system through which a society produces, distributes and consumes goods and services. The relationship between energy and the economy is inseparable. Economic survival and smooth functioning depend fundamentally on energy.

At its core, energy represents the ability to do work—whether turning a turbine, running a processor or heating a home. Modern hospitals, businesses and schools rely entirely on electricity. Expanding access to affordable energy raises living standards and creates employment opportunities. Without affordable energy, economic activity slows and eventually stops. When energy is reliable and reasonably priced, businesses grow, people feel secure and technological innovation accelerates. The connection between energy consumption and economic growth is well established. Research on Pakistan shows that a 1% increase in natural gas consumption raises economic growth by around 1.5%, while a 1% increase in petroleum consumption adds about 0.2% to growth. Although electricity consumption has a smaller coefficient compared to petroleum or natural gas, it still contributes positively to growth. At the global level, the World Bank describes energy as the lifeline of a modern economy.

The world is also experiencing an energy-intensive digital transformation. Artificial-intelligence-driven data centres consume enormous quantities of electricity. According to the........

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