The Paradox of Progress towards SDG7: Governance Quality and Energy Poverty Dynamics in Pakistan
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
The article addresses a relevant topic related to energy poverty in Pakistan and its relationship with governance and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 7. This review will include the points highlighted in the manuscript. Next, I will present my suggestions for improving the manuscript and making it as suitable as possible for publication in Sustainability.
Regarding the points highlighted in the manuscript, I will start with the relevance of the topic addressed. It is directly convergent with the themes and subjects published in Sustainability. The article addresses a critical problem in developing countries: the difficulty of accessing energy. This topic is directly related to SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to clean and affordable energy for all. The relevance of the topic is even more accentuated by the focus on Pakistan, a country that faces significant challenges in this area. Regarding the methodology used to collect and analyze the data, another strong point of the manuscript is that the authors used the statistical method called Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), which I am used to using in my advisory services and technical reports for clients in the areas of agribusiness and environmental management. This methodology is suitable for exploring complex relationships between observable and latent variables, offering a detailed analysis of the factors that influence energy generation and distribution in Pakistan. The article also explores the mediating role of governance, which adds a layer of sophistication to the analysis.
In addition, when integrating multiple factors that allow the diagnosis of the scenario observed by the authors, I consider it very valid that the authors listed socioeconomic factors, such as income level and population growth, together with energy variables, such as energy intensity and consumption of renewable energy, offering a holistic view of the problem. These multifunctional analyses usually generate theoretical models and predictive scenarios that tend to be more effective when presented to leaders and entities with the purpose of developing effective policies and multidimensional approaches. Finally, another highlight of the manuscript is its contribution to the technical-scientific literature on the subject. The article makes a significant contribution by highlighting the role of the quality of governance in mitigating energy poverty, something that has been relatively neglected in studies on the subject with this approach offered by the authors. This offers new perspectives for researchers and policy makers. However, in order to make the manuscript suitable for publication, I suggest that the authors: 1) provide a more in-depth discussion on Governance, because, although the role of governance is addressed as a mediator, the discussion on “how” exactly governance affects energy poverty could be more detailed. It would be interesting to explore specific examples of effective governance policies, perhaps with a comparison with other developing countries that have been successful in this area; 2) Explore the “root causes” of Pakistan’s energy distribution problem in more detail, as well as issues related to income inequality, corruption and geopolitical challenges. These themes could be organized into 3 paragraphs, with 1 paragraph per sub-theme.
3) While the article offers some policy recommendations, it could be more specific about the actions, practical solutions and recommendations that the Pakistani government and other stakeholders should take. For example, what types of governance reforms would be most effective? How could financing for renewable energy be optimized? What is currently in place and what has been set as a government target to address this issue?
4) While the article focuses heavily on the 2030 timeframe (SDG 7), the authors could provide 1 paragraph discussing the long-term implications and sustainability of the proposed policies. What steps would be needed beyond 2030 to ensure that improvements are lasting? 5) A comparison with other developing countries facing similar challenges could provide a richer perspective and show examples of “good governance practices” that could be applied in the Pakistani context; 6) Furthermore, the authors could consider a paragraph addressing the limitations, perspectives and possible future studies based on the results obtained from this study and the limitations and suggestions for future studies could be further developed. For example, could the need for higher frequency data or the inclusion of additional factors, such as private sector participation, be discussed?
Finally, the paper presents a solid and detailed analysis of the inefficiency of power generation and distribution in Pakistan, with an innovative approach in terms of methodology and integration of variables. However, a deeper discussion on governance mechanisms, root causes, and practical recommendations could further strengthen the impact of the work. Furthermore, a comparative and long-term perspective could provide additional valuable insights. Thus, the manuscript will be eligible for publication in Sustainability.
Author Response
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Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper could not be accepted in the existing form. The authors need to make some corrections. Please find corrections in the attached file.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript is
sufficiently improved to warrant publication in Sustainability.
Author Response
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