Pakistan has reached a major milestone in its energy sector, for the first time solar power has produced more electricity than the national grid during the peak summer months. This shows how fast people in Pakistan are turning to renewable energy.
According to a report by the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development, the national grid generated around 28 to 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, while consumers produced and used about 33 GW through their own solar systems. This means solar power has now overtaken grid electricity.
The report also said that Pakistan has imported solar panels with a total capacity of up to 50 GW, which is even more than the grid’s total capacity of 46 GW.
Among provinces, Punjab leads in solar power use, followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. In terms of sectors, homes use the most solar energy (16.66 GW), followed by industries (7.91 GW), agriculture (5.04 GW), and businesses (3.73 GW).
The study found that 77% of electricity users now mainly rely on solar energy, while only 23% still depend on the national grid.
This shift shows that Pakistan is moving toward energy independence and sustainability, helped by increasing public awareness, lower solar costs, and frequent problems with grid electricity.