Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, Parliamentary Secretary for Information & Broadcasting and Secretary of the Parliamentary Forum on Energy & Economy, praised a new national study by the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) at its launch in Islamabad, saying the findings supply vital evidence to guide Pakistan’s energy policy and planning around Distributed Solar.
The report, presented as “Shouting from the Rooftops: Mapping Pakistan’s Distributed Solar Power Revolution,” reveals a sharp discrepancy with official counts. Where authorities reported some 175,000 net-metered systems, the study estimates more than 33 gigawatts of rooftop and distributed solar capacity across the country, a scale that exceeds Pakistan’s entire national peak grid demand.
Chaudhry described the phenomenon as a citizen-led or “silent, grassroots revolution” driven by people taking control of their energy needs. He stressed that while the rapid uptake of Distributed Solar is a sign of resilience and innovation, it also raises urgent questions about access and fairness.
Speaking in his dual role, the Parliamentary Secretary urged policymakers to ensure the benefits of Distributed Solar reach farmers, small businesses and low-income households through tailored financing, inclusive regulatory frameworks and targeted subsidies. He said such measures are essential to reduce energy poverty and address the persistent circular debt challenge.
The launch was opened by Muhammad Badar Alam, CEO of PRIED, and featured presentations by PRIED researchers Manzoor Ahmed, Muqaddas Ashiq and Rimsha Rehan. A technical satellite mapping analysis was delivered by Max Santos, Data Scientist at Transition Zero, underscoring the study’s methodological approach to quantifying Distributed Solar deployment.
The event included a broad panel of sector stakeholders and experts from the energy ecosystem, with contributions from regulators, distribution companies and industry associations that discussed implications for grid management, regulation and investment. Speakers underlined the need to integrate Distributed Solar into national grid planning and to design policies that unlock financing and technical support for underserved communities.
Remarks were also offered by Sher Ali Arbab, co-convener of the Parliamentary Forum on Energy & Economy, and Asif Khan, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ceremony concluded with an address by the Chief Guest, Dr. Shezza Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Minister of State on Climate Change, who reiterated the imperative of harnessing the Distributed Solar opportunity to deliver inclusive, sustainable energy outcomes for Pakistan.
