Publications
The South Asia Region (SAR) has been experiencing rapid economic growth since the 1990s with concomitant increase in the demand for electricity. Electricity supply has not been able to match up to this growing demand, resulting in significant electricity shortages in the three large South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan), which is retarding their growth. Therefore, these countries have developed ambitious plans to augment electricity supply. The Global Financial Crisis (the Crisis) became acute from September 2008 following the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It has had a widespread impact across the world through inducing recessionary conditions including falling demand, freezing financial markets, and loss of confidence. Many sectors have been affected, particularly those in which large investments are planned, and this includes the electricity sector in SAR. The Crisis hit South Asia at a time when it had barely recovered from the after-effects of the global energy price spikes and the food crisis.