PAKISTAN’s rapid switch to solar energy, especially rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plates, is an important step towards clean energy. Every year, rising electricity bills, frequent loadsheddings and intense summer heat force millions of people to have their own power-generation mechanism in place. However, the dated national power grid is becoming a major roadblock to this green transition.

Localised generation creates huge reverse power flow into the existing distribution lines designed directly for unidirectional flow. Today, thousands of rooftops are sending additional power back into the system. Because local transformers cannot handle these sudden voltage shifts, power distribution companies frequently either delay or deny net-metering approvals. Restricting private solar adoption under the guise of grid instability directly undermines national clean energy goals.

To protect our grids and encourage solar energy adoption, the government must focus on basic technical upgrades. We need stronger local transformers, smart monitoring tools to manage power flow, and battery storage to store excess energy during peak hours. Supporting our solar energy grids is not just an environmental issue; it is a practical engineering problem. Upgrading our infrastructure today will guarantee affordable power for Pakistan.

Amina Abid
Dera Ghazi Khan

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2026