Pakistan's Solar Surge Curbs Energy Crisis, Triggers Waste Crisis
(MENAFN) The roof of an expansive rice processing facility in the eastern district of Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi is blanketed with sky blue solar panels absorbing sunlight beneath the scorching midday heat.
The facility represents one of thousands of industrial operations throughout Pakistan that have transitioned to solar power to combat escalating electricity costs and persistent power disruptions in recent years.
The South Asian nation of approximately 255 million inhabitants has experienced a solar energy surge, particularly during the past two years, after an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout compelled Pakistan to dramatically increase power and gas rates to sustain financially struggling suppliers in the heavily debt-burdened energy sector.
From pharmaceutical companies to cement producers in Karachi, to textile manufacturers in Faisalabad, and from supermarkets to mosques in Lahore, solar panels coupled with lithium batteries have emerged as an alternative to electricity from the national grid.
"We were left with no other choice but to go for solar energy, as the power bills had literally become unpayable for industrialists," Rafique Suleman, the owner of the mill, told media.
Suleman stated that adopting solar has "really" enabled him to address the tariff challenge, cutting up to 50% of his monthly power-related costs.
"The current power tariffs and Pakistan's industry cannot survive together. Solar energy is the only viable option that local industrialists have to run their businesses," added Suleman, a former chairman of the country's rice exporters association.
Mehwish Salman Ali, chief executive officer of Data Vault Pakistan, a leading data provider and management solutions company, characterizes solar solutions as a "game-changer" that assists the country in addressing chronic energy shortfalls by delivering affordable and reliable power to residences and enterprises.
"From crippling blackouts and insane sky-high bills, we've seen solar's share in electricity generation triple to 14% by 2025, with rural areas hitting 25% in the early months alone, filling the gaps where the grid fails us," Ali told media.
Pakistan's solar penetration positions it among Asia's frontrunners for solar-only share, exceeding nations like China (9%) and India (6%), according to Ember, a UK-based energy think tank.
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