KARACHI: The Sindh government has launched an ambitious initiative to provide solar panels to the people of the entire province. This effort is in line with Pakistan’s broader shift towards solarisation, with significant steps being taken to promote renewable energy sources.
Nasir Hussain Shah confirmed to the media after inaugurating the 7th Solar Expo at the Expo Center in Karachi that talks are underway with banks to facilitate the supply of solar panels. In the current budget, the government allocated funds to provide 500,000 solar panels to households.
The move aims to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and promote sustainable energy solutions.
“The whole of Pakistan is moving towards solarization and we are committed to making renewable energy accessible to our citizens,” said Nasir Hussain Shah. He stressed that a ban on solar panel exports will be imposed from 2027 to ensure that local needs are met first.
Sindh’s power sector is rapidly adopting renewables, with a significant portion of industry switching to sustainable energy sources. Shah emphasized that electricity generated in Thar is currently the cheapest, but renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are essential for long-term sustainability.
In a related development, he said, the Thar coal project provides the cheapest electricity tariff to the national grid. The National Electricity Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is responsible for setting the base tariff for electricity consumed in the grid, which is expected to support the supply of affordable electricity.
Shah expressed optimism that the prime minister would support initiatives to provide cheap electricity. “The tariff we are proposing will be Rs 18 per unit after all taxes,” he added.
He further said that the government is also considering re-contracting with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to ensure stable supply of affordable electricity. Shah said that consideration was being given to providing free electricity to households consuming up to 200 units, adding that if Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari became the prime minister, the promise of free electricity up to 300 units would be honoured.
Initially, we will focus on providing free electricity up to 100 units.
