Solar Power Overtakes National Grid in Pakistan

In a landmark shift for Pakistan’s energy landscape, solar power generation has overtaken electricity supply from the national grid for the first time, according to the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development. The report revealed that while grid generation stood between 28 and 30 gigawatts during summer, consumers utilized an estimated 33 gigawatts of solar energy.

Pakistan has imported solar panels with a cumulative capacity of 50 gigawatts, surpassing the grid’s total installed capacity of around 46 gigawatts. Punjab emerged as the top province in solar adoption, followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.

The residential sector leads in usage with 16.66 gigawatts, trailed by industrial (7.91 GW), agricultural (5.04 GW), and commercial (3.73 GW) consumers. The report also found that 77% of Pakistan’s electricity users now rely on solar systems, while only 23% still depend on the national grid—signaling a transformative move toward renewable energy independence and reduced reliance on conventional power sources.