Solar Revolution: Cheap Power or Costly System? Experts Issue Warning

Islamabad: A Chinese energy expert has warned that the rapidly growing installation of decentralized solar power systems in Pakistan is putting additional pressure on the national electricity grid and increasing tariffs for consumers who cannot afford to install solar systems.

Professor Dr. Yi Xian Sun of the University of Bath, UK, said that Pakistan has spent more than USD 10 billion on importing solar equipment, yet this massive investment has not generated any significant industrial or economic benefits for the country.

He noted that over the past three years, Chinese companies have invested more than USD 200 billion in overseas solar manufacturing, particularly in Southeast Asia, while Pakistan has remained largely excluded from this wave of investment. According to him, with the right policy framework and political stability, Pakistan could become an attractive destination for the clean energy industry due to its low-cost labor and large domestic market.

Aftab Khan, a representative of the Ministry of Industries and Production, said that for the local promotion of solar technology, Pakistan must realistically assess its technological manufacturing capacity and clearly identify priority sectors.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hasan Dawood Butt, Senior Advisor at China Energy Engineering Group, said that the lack of long-term planning has harmed Pakistan’s energy sector. He warned that unchecked solar imports are affecting grid stability and stressed the need for a clear roadmap for green Special Economic Zones under a reformed CPEC framework.

Experts emphasized that without strategic planning, domestic manufacturing, and policy alignment, Pakistan’s solar boom could deepen inequality in electricity costs and undermine the stability of the national power system.