Energy Minister Responds to Claims of Discouraging Solar Use in Pakistan

Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Awais Leghari has defended the government’s energy policy and rejected claims that his team is discouraging solar adoption.

In a detailed statement, the minister clarified that the government fully supports solar energy but aims to implement it in a way that does not unfairly shift costs onto consumers who are not using solar systems.

He stressed that unmanaged expansion of rooftop solar can create grid instability, particularly during evening hours when demand surges sharply after solar generation drops.

On fuel supply, Leghari revealed that LNG imports have been severely disrupted following a force majeure declaration by QatarEnergy amid the US-Israel war on Iran. He said the situation has forced authorities to adopt demand management measures across sectors.

While acknowledging that limited and temporary restrictions could be imposed on certain consumer segments, he assured that critical sectors such as fertilizers would be protected due to their importance for food security. Any curbs would be targeted and driven by system constraints rather than policy shifts.

The minister also dismissed proposals to completely replace gas-fired power plants with coal-based generation. He explained that while coal plants are already prioritized for base load due to lower costs, gas plants remain essential for managing peak demand and rapid fluctuations in electricity usage.

On the industrial front, Leghari rejected claims that higher gas tariffs have pushed industries off the national grid. He noted that grid demand has actually increased after the imposition of a captive power levy, supported by the government’s surplus electricity package priced at around Rs. 23 per unit.

He highlighted that electricity demand recorded strong growth in early 2026, with a 12.1 percent year-on-year increase in January and nearly 11 percent in February. He added that industries have collectively saved about Rs 12 billion under the discounted power package during this period.

Concluding his remarks, the minister said Pakistan has managed to cushion the impact of global energy shocks due to its diversified power generation mix, despite LNG supply disruptions.

He added that structural reforms, including privatization and market liberalization with third-party grid access, are also underway to strengthen the sector.