ISLAMABAD: Consumers across Pakistan have received welcome relief as solar panel prices have witnessed a significant decline in the local market.
According to market sources, prices of solar panels of various capacities have dropped by Rs4,000 to Rs9,000, providing notable relief to households and commercial users relying on solar energy systems.
Traders say the recent reduction is linked to falling petroleum prices, which have helped lower import and transportation costs in the renewable energy supply chain. They added that if the current trend in fuel prices continues, further reductions in solar panel rates may be observed in the coming weeks.
Economic experts note that rising electricity tariffs have already pushed a large number of consumers towards solar energy, and the recent price drop is expected to accelerate this shift toward alternative energy sources.
Meanwhile, a decrease in battery prices is also being anticipated. Batteries, which had seen a sharp rise in recent months due to higher fuel and logistics costs, were previously selling between Rs27,000 and Rs38,000 depending on specifications.
Market observers believe that easing petroleum prices may also reduce production and transportation costs for batteries, potentially bringing further relief to consumers.
Analysts suggest that continued reductions in solar equipment prices could strengthen the adoption of renewable energy systems in Pakistan, easing financial pressure on end users while supporting long-term energy diversification.
Big Energy Shift: Pakistan to Manufacture Solar Panels and Batteries Locally
Earlier, Pakistan is moving toward establishing domestic manufacturing of solar panels and energy storage batteries as part of a broader strategy to reduce import dependence and strengthen the country’s renewable energy sector.
It has been reported that a new policy regarding solar power has reached the final stages of its approval which seeks to change the country’s reliance from basic assembly of solar panels to manufacturing the components locally.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant to Industry and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan said this during an interview on a Pakistani television network where he said the goal is to manufacture domestic products and promote innovations in the field of renewable energy.
The solar energy policy aims to pay close attention to developing advanced technologies in the field of energy storage batteries and store the energy collected during the daytime to use it during nighttime. The energy storage system and the remaining components will be manufactured locally in Pakistan.
The officials claim that this step will help save foreign exchange reserves as the import of solar energy components will be minimized.
Moreover, the government hopes that this project will hasten the shift towards more affordable and sustainable energy solutions by establishing a self-sustaining renewable energy supply chain in the country.
There is no official statement about the exact schedule for the implementation of this initiative, although officials have stated that this plan is almost finished.
