The Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) has reaffirmed its commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the government in achieving its ambitious clean energy targets by the year 2030 for cutting the carbon footprint of the power sector and saving precious foreign exchange reserves otherwise spent on the import of highly expensive fossil fuel for electricity production.
The PSA leadership assured the fullest support to the government’s drive to produce up to 60 per cent of electricity in the country through renewable energy means at an event titled “Let’s grow together”.
The PSA leaders said the greater use of renewable energy sources as per the vision of the government was a step in the right direction for the country to secure the stage of self-reliance in the power sector. They told the audience at the event that alternative energy sources were abundantly available in the country whose effective utilization could generate electricity that would be sufficient for power consumers in the entire country.
They lamented that at present less than one GW of clean power based on solar energy was being produced in Pakistan when the clean energy resource could produce up to 2900 GWs of electricity. The PSA office-bearers demanded that Pakistan should need a long-term strategy and policies for harnessing the full potential of clean energy sources available in the country. They said the upcoming government to be formed after general elections should fully adhere to the clean energy goals set by the previous regime and also provide the resources required to meet these renewable energy targets. They said the countries, which had increased clean energy generation in the past few years hadn’t changed their policies for the renewable energy sector despite change in the regime.
They also demanded that the government should offer maximum incentives to clean power companies for the promotion of the renewable energy sector. They also reiterated the PSA’s commitment to establish the industry in Pakistan for indigenous production of solar energy equipment to save the foreign exchange reserves. They said the PSA would also fully support the government’s plans to establish solar power parks in the country in partnership with global donor agencies.
Speaking on the occasion, PSA chairman Amir Chaudhry said that his association recognized the significance of recent initiatives, such as the 10 GW Fast Track projects launched by the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) and the Ministry of Energy last year, which aim to accelerate the deployment of solar and other renewable energy sources in the country.
He also praised the government’s efforts to solarize public buildings, tubewells, and 11 kV feeders, each with tremendous potential exceeding 1,000 MW, 2,500 MW, and 2,000 MW, respectively.
“These projects are not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the economy, as they will reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels and create thousands of jobs in the solar sector,” he said.
Chaudhry added that PSA was eager to collaborate with the government to ensure the success of these projects and actively participate in developing additional initiatives that would contribute to the national energy transition.
He also emphasised the importance of local private sector companies taking a leading role in financing these projects, minimizing reliance on foreign investors or donors.
“We have the capacity, the expertise, and the passion to make Pakistan a leader in renewable energy in the region and the world.”
PSA Former Chairman Rana Abbas said that PSA was eager to collaborate with the government to ensure the success of these projects and actively participate in developing additional initiatives that will contribute to the national energy transition.
Senior Vice Chairman PSA, Zakir Ali said that the solar industry in Pakistan provides employment opportunities for a diverse range of workers, from semi-skilled and low-skilled laborers to graduates and technicians involved in system design and deployment. He also highlighted challenges faced by the industry such as import/LCs issues which are faced regularly and lead to unrest in the industry from Importer to trader to installers to end-users and halt the wheel of business. Another challenge is to simplify the net metering process, with the need for a one-window solution and implementing digital application processing.
Former Chairman, Muhammad Farhan emphasized the need for enhancement in the skillset of existing installers to improve the quality of installation and the Importance of keeping the solar panels clean and periodic checkups of the solar system to avoid any mishaps. PSA is willing to work with AEDB, NEPRA and relevant authorities to find solutions for the above challenges
PSA is confident that by working closely with the government and local stakeholders, the solar industry will play a pivotal role in propelling Pakistan toward a sustainable, clean energy future, fostering economic growth and job creation along the way.
Riaz Ahmed, Director General of, the Trade Organization, hailed the role of PSA and its members in promoting the solar industry in Pakistan.
He expressed the hope that PSA would make better liaisons with government institutions, including the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), for participation in international events to enhance networking with international partners.
Ahmed believed that a vibrant trade body could play a pivotal role in national development, particularly in the energy sector.
One of PSA’s key targets is to reach a significant milestone – installing 4 GW of solar capacity by 2024. This ambitious goal translates to 16 million kWh (units) of solar energy generated per day, resulting in a substantial daily savings of Rs. 800 million and an impressive annual savings of almost Rs. 300 billion on electricity costs.
This impact alone, focusing on households, is expected to benefit 800,000 households, marking a notable stride toward a sustainable and cost-effective energy future.
Waqas Moosa, who is chairman of the PSA’s media committee, said the government should incentivize banks to provide soft-term financing for the speedy installation of solar power systems.
He said the PSA would collaborate with the universities and technical education colleges to launch training projects for their graduates to produce qualified manpower, engineers, and technicians for the solar power industry in the country. He said the government would save up to billions of rupees annually after meeting the solar energy production targets set by the PSA.
