ApnaSolar News Roundup: Tariff Spikes, Local Manufacturing Push, and UNGA Recognition
September Electricity Bills Hit Two-Year High
Pakistani households faced a sharp increase in September electricity bills, which reached a two-year high averaging Rs 28.23 per unit. The 29% year-on-year jump was primarily driven by a Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) spike to Rs 2.06 per unit, alongside stacked Quarterly Tariff Adjustments and GST. The sudden increase has intensified consumer interest in rooftop solar and self-consumption strategies to escape rising grid costs.
Calls for Domestic Solar Manufacturing Policy
Speaking at the 3rd International Solar Power Conclave in Lahore, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan called on the government to formulate a clear policy framework for domestic solar manufacturing. Highlighting Pakistan's reliance on imported equipment, the governor emphasized that local production of panels and inverters would generate local jobs, preserve foreign exchange, and lower solar system costs for ordinary citizens.
Pakistan's Solar Expansion Spotlighted at UNGA
During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s rapid solar energy adoption. Presenting the nation's rooftop solar boom as a prime example of private-sector-led energy transition, he noted that distributed solar generation is actively helping reduce Pakistan's reliance on imported fossil fuels while stabilizing national energy security.
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