Pakistan's Solar Growth and Energy Challenges

Pakistan is experiencing a significant transition to solar energy, becoming the third largest buyer of Chinese solar panels and the sixth largest solar market in the world. This shift, driven largely by the affordability of solar technology and deteriorating conditions of the national power grid, has allowed factories, farmers, and middle-class households to adopt solar solutions. However, while this rapid increase in solar adoption is reducing fossil fuel import costs and moving towards an ambitious renewable energy target of 60% by the decade's end, it also creates new economic challenges. The grid is suffering from a loss of revenue, as more individuals and businesses move away from state electricity supply, resulting in rising tariffs that further encourage solar adoption.