Pakistan’s Solar Revolution Is Bringing Power to the People
Fed up with pricey electricity from an unreliable grid, Pakistanis have snapped up cheap solar panels. Muhammad Mustafa Amjad, program director at Islamabad-based think tank Renewables First, says his country can serve as a model for other nations transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Pakistan’s Solar Boom
Solar power is booming in Pakistan. Its share of electricity generation more than tripled in just three years, climbing from 4% in 2021 to 14% in 2024 — one of the highest percentages in Asia, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the British research group Ember. Panel imports doubled in a single year, making Pakistan, with the world’s fifth-largest population, one of the biggest solar markets globally. Rooftop solar installations have surged, reflecting this rapid uptake.
Bottom-Up Revolution
According to Amjad, “This is a very bottom-up revolution. It’s not government-driven, and it’s not motivated by climate concerns — it’s all about economics. Renewables are out-competing traditional energy sources, making it financially sensible to adopt solar.”
He emphasizes that the solar transition in Pakistan is citizen-led rather than top-down, contrasting with historical energy transitions in the Global South, which were typically driven by international institutions and policy mandates.
Factors Behind Rapid Solar Adoption
Amjad explains, “Electricity from the grid became extremely expensive, increasing almost 155% over a few years. Meanwhile, China produced a surplus of solar panels, competing for new markets. Pakistan’s large population made it attractive, and government policies exempted Chinese panels from import taxes. People sought cheaper alternatives and found them in solar.”
Solar panels are increasingly seen as essential rather than luxury items. Amjad shares anecdotes illustrating this trend, noting that new home constructions now routinely include solar systems, and solar panels are even becoming part of dowries in some regions. China’s solar exports are fueling this revolution in Pakistan.
Addressing Energy Access Challenges
In 2022, 40 million Pakistanis still lacked electricity access, and even connected areas faced frequent load shedding — rolling blackouts lasting several hours per day, with some rural areas experiencing 12–14 hours of daily outages. Diesel generators were common, but solar offered a cleaner, more reliable alternative. Citizen-driven solar adoption has been crucial for these communities.
Solar adoption spans urban and rural areas. In cities, homeowners are investing in rooftop systems. Rural communities, particularly in lower Punjab and upper Sindh, have seen almost 50% of households solarize, often through shared panels for multiple families or farms. This flexible, communal approach is a hallmark of Pakistan’s solar revolution.
Practical Uses of Solar Energy
Solar power is enabling practical improvements in daily life and agriculture. Farmers, for example, are solarizing tube wells, which irrigate entire villages or multiple fields. By replacing diesel generators with solar systems, communities save money and gain reliable energy for irrigation, fieldwork, and education. Shared ownership and cooperative financing allow solar systems to benefit both wealthy landlords and collective village initiatives.
Amjad concludes that while the solar revolution has already transformed energy access for millions, further government support — such as subsidized systems or loans for low-income households — could accelerate adoption and ensure that solar energy benefits all Pakistanis. Future renewable energy targets aim to further expand this impact nationwide.