Pakistan imported 22 GW of solar panels in 2024, placing it among the top solar adopters globally. This volume of imports exceeds Canada’s total installed solar capacity and surpasses the United Kingdom’s additions over the past five years, Clean Technica reports. The bulk of the installations occurred in the private sector, including atop commercial warehouses, textile mills and agricultural facilities.

This development occurred with limited state intervention the report continued. The government however, played a crucial role in facilitating adoption by removing import tariffs, approving net metering policies and allowing market dynamics to lead the transition.

Thanks to recent improvements in internal security, governance, and institutional performance, Pakistan is now making its mark in a sector long-dominated by India to the east and China to the northeast.

Benefitting from the push to solar has been Pakistan’s annual greenhouse gas emissions which now stand at approximately 490mn tonnes of CO₂ equivalent to figures from the late 2010s, and placing the country outside the world’s top ten emitters.

Per capita emissions are about 2 tonnes, the report continues – below the global average of 6 tonnes. However, its emissions per unit of GDP still remain high, due to an overbearing reliance on fossil fuels and an ageing industrial base.

Pakistan's energy grid also creates problems for the country and a stable energy supply and has long suffered from blackouts, price instability, and a heavy dependence on imported fuels. As such, the rapid drop in global solar panel prices and rising diesel costs helped to create the economic incentives for businesses and households to adopt solar solutions – on a record-breaking scale.

Hybrid inverters and lithium-ion batteries are also being widely deployed, supporting resilience in heavily built up or remote areas prone to power outages.

Yet, while solar is stealing the headlines for now, wind and hydropower continue to play a role in the national energy mix. Wind development has focused largely on the Gharo-Jhimpir corridor, while hydropower and biomass, particularly from the country’s sugar industry, also contribute to renewable electricity generation.

Grid infrastructure remains a persistent problem and is constantly under strain. Utilities are experiencing reduced revenues as high-demand consumers switch to self-generation, prompting concerns about long-term grid viability in major cities such as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

In part jumping on the bandwagon of renewables, and somewhat prematurely in the eyes of many energy watchers in the region, Islamabad has also announced plans for a 400-MW green hydrogen project, powered by solar and wind. This initiative aims to support industrial applications, especially in fertiliser production, a key component in the largely agricultural nation.

In addition, the electric vehicle (EV) sector in Pakistan is also expanding. Chinese firms, including BYD and ADM Group, have committed investments in manufacturing and infrastructure, Clean Technica indicates, with targets to convert 30% of all vehicles to electric by 2030.

Local companies such as Jolta Electric and Vlektra are also producing electric two- and three-wheelers in a bid to target Pakistan’s large population of motorcycle users. Rooftop solar charging too – once out of reach of most – is becoming a viable solution for many consumers, especially in urban areas facing high fuel costs and pollution.

When Pakistan joined the Paris Agreement, it was with a target to reduce emissions by 20% below business-as-usual levels by 2030, later revised to a 50% reduction – with 15% of that target unconditional. This shift required inter-ministerial coordination, new financing strategies and policy reforms; reforms that indicate just how willing authorities in Pakistan are to move forward with renewables initiatives.

Pakistan’s clean energy growth too, reflects a broader trend across Asia, where several post-colonial states are implementing development strategies focused on infrastructure, resilience and long-term sustainability. While challenges remain, particularly regarding grid readiness and industrial emissions, the scale and pace of Pakistan’s energy transition mark a significant shift in its green development trajectory.