Islamabad: Pakistan is witnessing an unprecedented solar revolution as communities and businesses take charge of their energy needs, outpacing government policies and traditional infrastructure. With a staggering 22 GW of solar panels imported in just 18 months, the country is undergoing a massive shift towards decentralized solar solutions. However, sustaining this momentum requires urgent policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and market mechanisms.
At the Great Solar Rush Conference 2025, held at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted the urgency of aligning policies with this people-driven transformation. “Pakistan has emerged as a leader in solar adoption across South Asia. We should be enabling this revolution, not disabling it,” she stressed, warning that failure to integrate solar into national energy planning could undermine energy security and economic stability.
Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, emphasized the economic realities fueling this transition. “Millions are turning to solar not because of climate change policies but because it makes perfect financial sense,” he said, urging policymakers to embrace distributed generation instead of resisting it.
Muhammad Mustafa Amjad, Director of Programs at Renewables First, shed light on the scale of the shift. “With 16 GW of solar imports in a single fiscal year—23 times our installed utility-scale solar capacity—we are witnessing an irreversible energy transition.” He pointed out that grid electricity consumption has dropped by 10%, decoupling from GDP growth for the first time, signaling a fundamental change in demand patterns.
Addressing Challenges: Policy, Infrastructure, and Market Reforms
The conference featured two critical panel discussions.
✅ Solar Supply Chains & Net Metering Reforms:
Ali Majid, GM of Longi, highlighted Pakistan’s high electricity costs and lack of local solar manufacturing, making production uncompetitive. He proposed mandating ‘Made in Pakistan’ solar panels for public projects to attract investment in local assembly plants.
Waqas Moosa, Chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association, warned that poorly communicated policy changes could destabilize the solar market, urging transparent, industry-friendly reforms.
✅ Strengthening Grid Infrastructure for Solar Integration:
Syed Faizan Ali Shah, Member of the PM’s Solarization Committee, noted that daytime grid electricity demand has fallen by 10 TWh annually due to solar adoption, creating new challenges for grid operators. He emphasized the need for smart metering and distributed energy controls to manage power fluctuations effectively.
Umer Farooq of LUMS Energy Institute called for a shift from a top-down energy model to decentralized, smart-grid solutions, ensuring efficient energy balancing.
The Road Ahead: Enabling a Sustainable Solar Future
Pakistan’s solar transformation is unstoppable, but without policy support, infrastructure investments, and smart-grid solutions, its full potential may be lost. The government, regulators, and industry stakeholders must now collaborate to modernize the energy sector, integrate storage solutions, and create a fair, competitive electricity market that benefits consumers and utilities alike.
For more details and access to The Great Solar Rush in Pakistan study, visit www.renewablesfirst.org or contact events@renewablesfirst.org.
