ISLAMABAD: The government is facing a growing challenge as it has been revealed that the public is generating 250 MW of solar power each month, amounting to 3,000 MW annually, through off-grid solar installations. This trend could significantly reduce the reliance on the national grid, which supplies increasingly unaffordable electricity.
As the shift towards independent solar energy continues, it is projected that within 5-6 years, the government may struggle to sell electricity from the national grid, exacerbating the current capacity payment crisis.
The issue was flagged by a committee on solarization, led by Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, which will brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the findings and recommendations this week. The committee has urged the government to address this trend, as billions have already been invested in strategic power projects.
Story by Khalid Mustafa
