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Is solar a viable energy solution in Pakistan?

Falling equipment prices, combined with volatile local fuel costs and persistent power shortages, have made solar one of the most economically viable energy solutions in Pakistan today. Despite this, significant gaps remain in how the transition is being managed.

Did Pakistan import more solar panels in 2024?

And yet, by the end of 2024, Pakistan imported more solar panels than almost any other nation in the world. The South Asian country, facing economic challenges and high energy poverty, is witnessing one of the most unexpected clean energy success stories of the decade.

Is Pakistan's solar energy growth largely 'outside formal energy planning frameworks'?

The Ember report notes that Pakistan's growth is happening largely “outside formal energy planning frameworks”. Industry experts say there is minimal direct government intervention in Pakistan’s solar journey. In fact, the infrastructure is struggling to keep up.

Is solar energy a structural shift in Pakistan?

“It marks a structural shift,” he adds, “in how energy is perceived in Pakistan.” Pakistan’s solar panel imports in fiscal year 2024 alone, Mr Amjad says, amount to roughly half of the national peak power demand.

What drives the energy transition in Pakistan?

Ubaid Ullah, an energy expert in Karachi, argues that the energy transition is driven by people taking matters into their own hands. “If you look at satellite images of any Pakistani city,” he tells The Independent, “ all the roofs appear blue, covered in solar panels.”

Does Pakistan have a solar power grid?

Despite importing record volumes of solar panels, Pakistan’s official grid-connected solar capacity remains far lower, indicating that much of the new solar is operating off-grid or behind the meter, where it escapes inclusion in national electricity statistics.