Pakistan Solar Power: News & Updates

[ghazi52]

Pakistan establishes first lab for solar modules​

Kalbe Ali
December 7, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The country’s first testing laboratory for photovoltaic (PV) modules, commonly known as solar panels, has been established with the support of the Korean government, which will support the country toward sustainable energy, technological advancement, and industrial development.

The PAK-KOREA Testing Laboratory for PV Modules and Allied Equipment lab was established jointly by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The laboratory has been developed through a $9.5 million grant-aid project from KOICA, alongside a local Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) contribution of Rs185.8m.

The lab will become operational after achieving accreditation to ISO-17025 standards, including IEC-61215 and IEC-61730.

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), an allied department of MoST, has already initiated the process to include solar panels in its list of mandatory items.

The PSQCA will conduct random testing of samples from each imported consignment through the new testing lab to ensure quality control of solar panels in the country.

KOICA constructed the laboratory and provided, installed, and commissioned all required equipment for solar panel testing. It also conducted a nine-month training programme to ensure smooth operation during and after project completion.

The PSQCA aims to achieve Certification Body Testing Laboratory (CBTL) status, enabling the lab to issue IEC compliance certificates. It will facilitate local PV panel manufacturers in exporting their products to Europe and Central Asia.

KOICA President Chang Won Sam and the Republic of Korea Ambassador Park Jae-Lark inaugurated the lab on Saturday.

Mr Sam highlighted that sustainable, reliable energy is vital to Pakistan’s future.

“Country’s abundant sunshine offers a tremendous opportunity in solar energy, and I firmly believe Pakistan is well-positioned to accelerate its transition toward clean and green energy.” He added that Korea aims to support Pakistan in strengthening its capacity to test and certify solar PV modules in accordance with international standards.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1983, Korea and Pakistan have continuously strengthened their partnership and expanded cooperation, he said.

Dr Jaesang Park, project manager at KOICA, expressed confidence that the testing lab will significantly contribute to Pakistan’s solar industry.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Pakistan establishes first lab for solar modules​

Kalbe Ali
December 7, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The country’s first testing laboratory for photovoltaic (PV) modules, commonly known as solar panels, has been established with the support of the Korean government, which will support the country toward sustainable energy, technological advancement, and industrial development.

The PAK-KOREA Testing Laboratory for PV Modules and Allied Equipment lab was established jointly by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The laboratory has been developed through a $9.5 million grant-aid project from KOICA, alongside a local Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) contribution of Rs185.8m.

The lab will become operational after achieving accreditation to ISO-17025 standards, including IEC-61215 and IEC-61730.

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), an allied department of MoST, has already initiated the process to include solar panels in its list of mandatory items.

The PSQCA will conduct random testing of samples from each imported consignment through the new testing lab to ensure quality control of solar panels in the country.

KOICA constructed the laboratory and provided, installed, and commissioned all required equipment for solar panel testing. It also conducted a nine-month training programme to ensure smooth operation during and after project completion.

The PSQCA aims to achieve Certification Body Testing Laboratory (CBTL) status, enabling the lab to issue IEC compliance certificates. It will facilitate local PV panel manufacturers in exporting their products to Europe and Central Asia.

KOICA President Chang Won Sam and the Republic of Korea Ambassador Park Jae-Lark inaugurated the lab on Saturday.

Mr Sam highlighted that sustainable, reliable energy is vital to Pakistan’s future.

“Country’s abundant sunshine offers a tremendous opportunity in solar energy, and I firmly believe Pakistan is well-positioned to accelerate its transition toward clean and green energy.” He added that Korea aims to support Pakistan in strengthening its capacity to test and certify solar PV modules in accordance with international standards.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1983, Korea and Pakistan have continuously strengthened their partnership and expanded cooperation, he said.

Dr Jaesang Park, project manager at KOICA, expressed confidence that the testing lab will significantly contribute to Pakistan’s solar industry.

Superb. Another great milestone for the country.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

Pakistan’s textile giant KML boosts solar capacity to 7.2MW, plans additional 3MW installation​

• The company has completed commissioning of the remaining 2.7MW renewable energy system

Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited (KML) has completed the commissioning of an additional 2.7 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity at its manufacturing facility, taking its total solar generation to 7.2MW.

The company also announced plans to add another 3MW system by the end of the current financial year, it shared in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday.

“We would like to convey that the company has completed commissioning of the remaining 2.7MW renewable energy system. With this addition, the company’s total solar energy generation capacity at its manufacturing facility has reached 7.2MW, and more than 20% of its operational electricity needs are now being met through this solar photovoltaic system.


“To further strengthen the company’s sustainability and efficiency agenda, the management has decided to install an additional 3MW solar photovoltaic system on or before the end of the current financial year.

“This expansion will reduce unit energy costs, lower exposure to government-related grid tariff volatility, and support national objectives by decreasing reliance on imported fuels and associated carbon emissions,” read the notice.

Incorporated on 21 December 1987 in Pakistan under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (Now Companies Act, 2017), Kohinoor Mills Limited is engaged in the business of textile manufacturing and generating, supplying electricity.

There has been a growing shift towards alternative energy sources in Pakistan, especially solar, which has become increasingly popular among residential and commercial sectors.

According to Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED), an independent think tank, Pakistan is experiencing unprecedented solarisation of its energy sector, with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a capacity of 33 gigawatts already installed across the country.

This rising trend has left decision-makers grappling with its implications for the national grid and energy sector, as electricity consumption remains stagnant.

Nonetheless, several projects have been initiated to exploit this relatively cheaper energy source.

On Tuesday, Din Textile Mills Limited (DINT) announced that it had boosted its renewable energy footprint, adding 3.2 megawatts to its operational solar capacity.

 

[hussain0216]

Between solar, hydro and wind Pakistan is actually incredibly lucky to have all these options

If we had been smart we would have utilised these decades ago to save our Forex

 

[maxpane]

now we are not saving mother earth from global warming but also protecting us from govt mismanagement

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

Between solar, hydro and wind Pakistan is actually incredibly lucky to have all these options

If we had been smart we would have utilised these decades ago to save our Forex

In 5-6 years Pakistan will have cheapest electricity, after CPEC IPP debt is paid off.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

The federal government has begun work on large, utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to stabilise the national grid as intermittent solar and wind projects expand faster than planned, Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari informed the National Assembly.


In a written reply, the minister said the government is pursuing the development of large-scale battery energy storage systems through private-sector investments to address the intermittency of variable renewable energy, optimise grid demand management, and enhance overall system stability.

He also confirmed that Pakistan is steadily moving away from liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of a broader policy shift aimed at reducing dependence on imported fuels amid growing renewable capacity and stagnant electricity demand.


According to the power minister, Pakistan’s clean energy share reached 46% by September 2025, exceeding the government’s target of 40% for 2025. Current on-grid renewable capacity stands at 37%, with a significant jump driven by private-sector projects.

A total of 60 renewable energy projects are operational under the Private Power and Infrastructure Board, contributing 4,753MW, including 680MW of solar, 1,937MW of run-of-river hydropower, 1,845MW of wind, and 291MW of bagasse cogeneration. Public-sector hydropower and solar additions have further strengthened the mix.

Leghari said net-metering-based solar installations have added 6,390MW as of September 2025, pushing the overall clean energy share beyond the 2025 target. The government has also finalised an initial quota of 800MW for the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market to enable direct renewable energy contracts between producers and large consumers.


He stressed that reliable and affordable electricity was essential for economic growth, adding that national policies were focused on expanding indigenous resources such as solar, wind, hydropower, bagasse, and Thar coal.

On LNG supplies, the minister said reliance on imported fuel had comparatively reduced, with priority shifting toward indigenous and renewable generation. He noted that solar adoption was being encouraged across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, supported by net-metering regulations for systems up to 1MW.

Responding to another question, Leghari said load management across distribution companies was based on average technical and commercial losses, adding that there was no loadshedding due to generation shortfall.

 

[Samlee]

A Better Idea Would Be Pumped Storage Hydel Power

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

Chinese group to establish solar panel plant in Pakistan with billion-dollar investment​

News Desk10 Dec 2025

Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group delegation meets Pakistan’s investment minister;BoI welcomes proposal, offering 6,000 acres of land

China’s Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group has expressed strong interest in establishing a major solar panel manufacturing facility in Pakistan, targeting both domestic demand and export markets.

A delegation from the company, led by Chairman Wang Jianbin and accompanied by the China-Pakistan Business Forum, met with Pakistan’s Minister for the Board of Investment (BoI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, to discuss the potential investment, which could run into billions of dollars.

The BoI has welcomed the proposal, offering 6,000 acres of land and highlighting the government’s efforts to create a business-friendly environment. These efforts include the introduction of reforms such as the new single-window Business Facilitation Centre, aimed at streamlining business procedures.

Minister Sheikh emphasized Pakistan’s economic stabilisation, with sectors like solar energy, agriculture, and IT offering significant opportunities for foreign investors.

The meeting also reviewed the successful outcomes of the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held earlier this year, which resulted in $8.5 billion in agreements across various sectors.

The minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting high-tech, green-energy investments and expressed hope for further collaboration with China in promoting sustainable growth.

Chinese group to establish solar panel plant in Pakistan with billion-dollar investment

Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group delegation meets Pakistan’s investment minister;BoI welcomes proposal, offering 6,000 acres of land

profit.pakistantoday.com.pk

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan’s textile giant KML boosts solar capacity to 7.2MW, plans additional 3MW installation​

• The company has completed commissioning of the remaining 2.7MW renewable energy system

BR Web Desk
Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited (KML) has completed the commissioning of an additional 2.7 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity at its manufacturing facility, taking its total solar generation to 7.2MW.

The company also announced plans to add another 3MW system by the end of the current financial year, it shared in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday.

“We would like to convey that the company has completed commissioning of the remaining 2.7MW renewable energy system. With this addition, the company’s total solar energy generation capacity at its manufacturing facility has reached 7.2MW, and more than 20% of its operational electricity needs are now being met through this solar photovoltaic system.

“To further strengthen the company’s sustainability and efficiency agenda, the management has decided to install an additional 3MW solar photovoltaic system on or before the end of the current financial year.

“This expansion will reduce unit energy costs, lower exposure to government-related grid tariff volatility, and support national objectives by decreasing reliance on imported fuels and associated carbon emissions,” read the notice.

Incorporated on 21 December 1987 in Pakistan under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (Now Companies Act, 2017), Kohinoor Mills Limited is engaged in the business of textile manufacturing and generating, supplying electricity.

There has been a growing shift towards alternative energy sources in Pakistan, especially solar, which has become increasingly popular among residential and commercial sectors.

 

[ghazi52]

According to Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED), an independent think tank, Pakistan is experiencing unprecedented solarisation of its energy sector, with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a capacity of 33 gigawatts already installed across the country.

This rising trend has left decision-makers grappling with its implications for the national grid and energy sector, as electricity consumption remains stagnant.

Nonetheless, several projects have been initiated to exploit this relatively cheaper energy source.

On Tuesday, Din Textile Mills Limited (DINT) announced that it had boosted its renewable energy footprint, adding 3.2 megawatts to its operational solar capacity.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Pakistan’s solar rush unlocked $17-19bn in private investment in 8 years: study​

• In FY25 alone, solar mobilised $5-6bn, emerging as one of Pakistan’s strongest channels of private capital, study ‘The Many Dividends of Solar Rush in Pakistan’ says

Rehan Ayub
Published December 12, 2025



Pakistan’s solar rush has unlocked $17-19 billion in private investment between FY17 and FY25, driven by household savings, rooftop systems, and the expansion of EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) and installation services, according to a study released on Friday.

In FY25 alone, solar mobilised $5-6 billion, emerging as one of the Pakistan’s strongest channels of private capital, the study ‘The Many Dividends of Solar Rush in Pakistan’, launched by think tank Renewable First said.

“This surge in activity has generated 300,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, strengthening service industries, supply chains, and rural electrification efforts,” the study stated.

It highlighted that the mass-scale adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) was not only reducing fossil dependence and easing grid strain but also mobilising private capital, creating jobs, and cutting emissions at scale.

Pakistan’s solar surge lifts it into rarefied 25% club

As Pakistan grapples with mounting climate risks, including the recent devastating monsoon floods, distributed solar continues to deliver one of the country’s strongest mitigation outcomes.

“In FY25, solar PV avoided an estimated 35 million MtCO₂-eq, pushing cumulative avoided emissions since FY17 to over 83 million MtCO₂-eq.”

At the current trajectory, Pakistan could avoid 50 million MtCO₂-eq annually by FY30, avoiding more emissions than the total currently produced by the country’s entire power sector, according to the study.

Pakistan’s rapid solar uptake has positioned it as the second-largest global importer of Chinese solar panels in FY25, bringing in 17.9GW, with cumulative imports surpassing 50GW, as per the stats given by the study.

Households, farms, and industries are increasingly shifting to solar as “it makes financial sense because of rising grid tariffs and expensive imported fuels”.

“Amid Pakistan’s worsening economic and employment challenges, the country’s solar rush is delivering clear cross-sectoral dividends, from declining thermal reliance to new economic activity and the creation of much-needed jobs,” noted Muhammad Sheraz, Energy Analyst at Renewables First.

“These outcomes are not only transforming the energy sector but also laying the foundation for substantial economic growth.”

With the deployment of an estimated 32GW of solar PV, the report found that Pakistan could potentially generate 42TWh of distributed electricity annually, equivalent to 38% of current grid sales.

This rapid growth in behind-the-meter generation is eroding the role of conventional power plants.

Imported coal has seen the sharpest decline, the study mentioned, with utilisation falling from 78% to just 11% between FY22 and FY24.

“RLNG plants have dropped from 51% to 31%, while local coal has eased from 81% to 70%. With RLNG cargoes for FY26–27 already cancelled and coal imports continuing to fall, these trends suggest a deep and structural shift in Pakistan’s fossil energy demand, driven not by policy mandates, but by the momentum of consumer-led solar adoption.”

BR RESEARCH: Solar imports slow, momentum will hold

The study suggested to align Pakistan’s power sector policies with the fast-growing reality of distributed energy resources. This included modernising grid and resource planning, undertaking tariff and market reforms suited to declining grid consumption, clarifying policies for distributed generation, storage, and flexible resources, and updating regulatory frameworks to enable a decentralised, consumer-driven energy future.

“Policies and planning frameworks must now keep pace with this shift to ensure the system is prepared for a rapidly changing energy landscape,” Sheraz noted.

 

[Aziqbal]

But it’s a shame Pakistan does not manufacture solar panels everything is imported

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan’s solar rush unlocked $17-19bn in private investment in 8 years: study​

• In FY25 alone, solar mobilised $5-6bn, emerging as one of Pakistan’s strongest channels of private capital, study ‘The Many Dividends of Solar Rush in Pakistan’ says

Rehan Ayub
December 12, 2025

Pakistan’s solar rush has unlocked $17-19 billion in private investment between FY17 and FY25, driven by household savings, rooftop systems, and the expansion of EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) and installation services, according to a study released on Friday.

In FY25 alone, solar mobilised $5-6 billion, emerging as one of the Pakistan’s strongest channels of private capital, the study ‘The Many Dividends of Solar Rush in Pakistan’, launched by think tank Renewable First said.

“This surge in activity has generated 300,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, strengthening service industries, supply chains, and rural electrification efforts,” the study stated.

It highlighted that the mass-scale adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) was not only reducing fossil dependence and easing grid strain but also mobilising private capital, creating jobs, and cutting emissions at scale.

As Pakistan grapples with mounting climate risks, including the recent devastating monsoon floods, distributed solar continues to deliver one of the country’s strongest mitigation outcomes.

“In FY25, solar PV avoided an estimated 35 million MtCO₂-eq, pushing cumulative avoided emissions since FY17 to over 83 million MtCO₂-eq.”

At the current trajectory, Pakistan could avoid 50 million MtCO₂-eq annually by FY30, avoiding more emissions than the total currently produced by the country’s entire power sector, according to the study.

Pakistan’s rapid solar uptake has positioned it as the second-largest global importer of Chinese solar panels in FY25, bringing in 17.9GW, with cumulative imports surpassing 50GW, as per the stats given by the study.

Households, farms, and industries are increasingly shifting to solar as “it makes financial sense because of rising grid tariffs and expensive imported fuels”.

“Amid Pakistan’s worsening economic and employment challenges, the country’s solar rush is delivering clear cross-sectoral dividends, from declining thermal reliance to new economic activity and the creation of much-needed jobs,” noted Muhammad Sheraz, Energy Analyst at Renewables First.

“These outcomes are not only transforming the energy sector but also laying the foundation for substantial economic growth.”

With the deployment of an estimated 32GW of solar PV, the report found that Pakistan could potentially generate 42TWh of distributed electricity annually, equivalent to 38% of current grid sales.

This rapid growth in behind-the-meter generation is eroding the role of conventional power plants.

 

[ghazi52]

Imported coal has seen the sharpest decline, the study mentioned, with utilisation falling from 78% to just 11% between FY22 and FY24.

“RLNG plants have dropped from 51% to 31%, while local coal has eased from 81% to 70%. With RLNG cargoes for FY26–27 already cancelled and coal imports continuing to fall, these trends suggest a deep and structural shift in Pakistan’s fossil energy demand, driven not by policy mandates, but by the momentum of consumer-led solar adoption.”

The study suggested to align Pakistan’s power sector policies with the fast-growing reality of distributed energy resources. This included modernising grid and resource planning, undertaking tariff and market reforms suited to declining grid consumption, clarifying policies for distributed generation, storage, and flexible resources, and updating regulatory frameworks to enable a decentralised, consumer-driven energy future.

“Policies and planning frameworks must now keep pace with this shift to ensure the system is prepared for a rapidly changing energy landscape,” Sheraz noted.