Evolving Household Trends and Cooking Fuel Preferences
Census 2023 reveals evolving household structures, energy preferences, and regional disparities across Pakistan.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Census 2023, Pakistan experienced a substantial increase in the number of households across all provinces, reflecting a shift toward nuclear family structures and urbanization. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw the highest growth, with households increasing by 33%, followed by Balochistan 31% and Islamabad 22%. This growth correlates with a decline in average household size nationally, from 6.39 persons in 2017 to 6.30 persons in 2023. Interestingly, while household sizes decreased in most regions, Punjab and Sindh observed slight increases, possibly reflecting cultural or socio-economic factors.
What might be driving these regional differences in household dynamics?
The change in household size and structure coincides with evolving preferences for cooking fuels. Firewood remains the primary cooking fuel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 71.38% and Balochistan 70.06%, signifying continued reliance on traditional energy sources in rural and underdeveloped areas. In Punjab, nearly half of the households 49.94% also depend on firewood. On the other hand, urbanized Islamabad leads in gas-based fuel usage, with 85.85% of households using Gas/LPG/LNG, followed by Sindh at 49.32%.
Between the 2017 and 2023 censuses, slight increases in Gas/LPG/LNG usage were recorded in Punjab and Sindh, whereas Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained stagnant. Notably, Balochistan observed a 3% decline in gas-based fuel usage, coupled with a rise in alternative sources like biogas, electricity, and kerosene oil. These trends underscore disparities in energy infrastructure and access across provinces, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable energy availability nationwide.
GRAPHICS
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Government must have arrangements for the provision of energy and fuel other than the wood fuel. It is an imperative for conservation of ecological system in this country.. on the other hand trees are being speedily cut down in the suburbs of the cities.