Pakistan Leads Rooftop Solar Surge Amid Soaring Power Bills

KARACHI: A silent energy revolution is sweeping Pakistan, as solar panels increasingly appear on rooftops — not just in elite neighborhoods, but now in middle- and lower-income households. Soaring electricity prices and frequent power outages have driven many to seek energy independence through rooftop solar power.

In a narrow alley of Karachi, Fareeda Saleem, a widow with two disabled children, shares her experience of living off-grid. She sold her jewelry and borrowed money to install solar panels, an inverter, and a battery — spending PKR 180,000 ($630) to finally have uninterrupted power amid the city’s scorching summer heat.

Pakistan’s transition to solar has accelerated rapidly. Solar energy made up just 2% of the energy mix in 2020, but reached 10.3% in 2024, and has soared to 24% in early 2025, becoming the largest source of power for the first time. This growth surpasses gas, coal, and even hydropower, putting Pakistan on track to meet its 60% renewable energy target by 2030.

Experts say this “great solar rush” is not driven by government policy, but by public frustration with sky-high power bills and unreliable electricity. Energy analyst Dave Jones of Ember called Pakistan a “leader in rooftop solar,” while Basit Ghauri from Renewables First emphasized that it’s the people — not policy — leading the charge toward cleaner, affordable power.