Minister of State for Power Ali Pervaiz Malik addressed recent speculations about Pakistan’s policies on solar systems and net metering. Malik firmly stated that the government has not imposed any ban on net metering and has no immediate plans to review the policy. Any future changes will be made after thorough consultations.
No Tax on Solar Systems in Pakistan
Malik also clarified that no decision has been made regarding taxes on solar systems. He emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting alternative energy projects, including renewable energy schemes, to bolster the economy and address ongoing challenges. The minister warned against negative political tactics, stating that such actions would be exposed.
Speculations arose after Energy Minister Awais Leghari mentioned a potential review of the net metering policy. Addressing a press conference, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari acknowledged the current issues with solar net metering.
Leghari noted that initially, citizens installing solar systems would recover their investment in three years. Now, due to improved efficiency and incentives, they recover their investment in just one to one and a half years. The PML-N-led government, which had promoted solarisation in 2017, now boasts 113,000 connections on net meters.
While Leghari confirmed that the government is open to reviewing the solar net metering policy if necessary, he reiterated their support for the scheme’s continuation. Additionally, he highlighted the government’s commitment to combating power theft to reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer.
