Import of Solar power system machines hit $1.4 billion in the first ten months of the ongoing fiscal year (10MFY21) from $971 million in the same period last year. However, market players contest this whopping import bill figure, attributing it to bulk import of generators for housing and government-related projects instead of household consumption.
They said increasing demand of solar power systems has badly hit the sales of small and medium-sized generators. Prices of generator have also gone up despite rising rupee value against the dollar.
However, many consumers feel the intensity of loadshedding has slowed down in the last few years and there is no need to take a costly ride by purchasing generators.
“Sales of solar power systems have gone up 80 per cent in the last two years owing to a soaring demand in rural areas where power availability is still a remote possibility,” said M. Saleem Memon, the vice-president of Karachi Electronics Dealers Association (KEDA).
