Experts Urge Flexible Energy Strategy Amid Pakistan’s Rapid Solar Growth

Parliamentarians and energy experts have urged the government to avoid locking Pakistan into long-term energy contracts that could create costly take-or-pay obligations and worsen the country’s circular debt. Instead, they recommended adopting a more flexible approach to fuel imports as solar power continues to expand rapidly across the country.

Speaking at a dialogue titled The Sun and the Pipeline: Energy Contracts in an Era of Solar Disruption in Pakistan, participants highlighted the need to align future energy planning with Pakistan’s evolving power mix. They noted that the country’s rapidly growing rooftop solar capacity is reshaping electricity demand, requiring regulatory reforms that prioritize affordability, reliability, and energy security.

The forum also stressed that solar energy and natural gas should be viewed as complementary rather than competing resources. Experts called for an integrated energy strategy combining solar generation, gas infrastructure, the national grid, and emerging technologies to ensure a resilient and cost-effective energy system while protecting consumers from volatile global energy markets.