ABSTRACT

The transition to renewable energy is essential for mitigating Pakistan’s rising electricity costs, import dependence, and carbon emissions. Public building solarization has emerged as a promising strategy; however, its economic viability and policy implementation remain unexplored. Despite initiatives such as “ARE 2019” and “Fast-Track Solar Initiative 2022”, institutional and financial challenges hindered progress. This study addresses this gap by evaluating both the economic feasibility and implementation process of public building solarization in Pakistan. The objectives are twofold: (i) to assess the costs and benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems using cost-benefit analysis (CBA), and (ii) to examine policy implementation fidelity through a process evaluation guided by the Theory of Change (ToC). A mixed-methods research design is employed. The quantitative analysis uses CBA in the case study of a central library and then generalizes the results on an average-sized public building, while the qualitative analysis uses thematic analysis for semi-structured interviews to explore stakeholder perspectives and institutional dynamics. The findings indicate that solar PV systems are financially viable and environmentally advantageous, but weak institutional coordination, political instability, and financing constraints undermine policy outcomes. The study highlights the importance of aligning economic feasibility with governance reforms to advance sustainable energy transitions.