Many countries strive to transition a significant portion of their energy consumption to solar power. China leads the pack with 131 gigawatts, followed by the UK with 51, Japan with 49, Germany with 42, Italy with 19, and India with 18 gigawatts of solar capacity. Every dollar is precious in Pakistan at this time. The annual import bill for oil and gas has reached 27 billion dollars, and the revolving debt stands at 2,500 billion rupees.
With billions of rupees being spent annually and the mounting debt, the country’s development and prosperity remain uncertain. Last year, the Pakistani government encouraged the public to shift towards solar energy production by reducing duties on its equipment. However, as demand for solar panels increases with changing weather patterns, market prices have soared from 75 thousand to 3 lakh rupees. Market sources attribute this to shifts in government policy.
It would not be amiss to suggest that if individuals were to meet half of their electricity demand with solar power, the government’s reliance on costly sources like oil and gas would diminish, thereby reducing the import bill. Much of the expensive electricity in the country is consumed by the affluent class and lost through transmission, placing the entire burden on the common man. The daily rise in electricity prices exacerbates inflation, compounding the challenges citizens face.
Under the current circumstances, inexpensive solar-generated electricity could alleviate many of these issues for people. To achieve this, it will be necessary to exempt solar panels from taxes and reduce their prices to make them accessible to the common man.
JALASHK BALACH
DASHT
