Latest news with #Rs27
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Solar progress undone
Listen to article In a country plagued by energy insecurity and spiralling power costs, Pakistan's foray into solar energy once offered a rare glimmer of hope. But in a troubling turn of events, that hope is now dimming. By slashing the net metering buyback rate from Rs27 to a meagre Rs10 per unit, the government has not only jolted hundreds of thousands of rooftop solar users but also undermined its own clean energy ambitions. It is, in every sense, a case of taking one step forward and two steps back. Pakistan's installed generation capacity may have crossed 46,000 MW, but the power sector remains inefficient and riddled with structural flaws. The over-reliance on imported fuels, outdated grid infrastructure and circular debt have left the country paying exorbitantly for electricity it can barely transmit or afford. Amid this dysfunction, the rapid uptake of rooftop solar systems by households and businesses from 2022 to 2024 offered a decentralised, clean and increasingly affordable alternative. It was also a rare instance where citizens took ownership of their energy future — not through subsidy, but through self-investment. Now, however, the state appears more interested in using electricity as a revenue-generating tool than as a public utility. Faced with mounting internal fiscal constraints and crushing external debt repayments, the government is seeking to enhance existing streams of income — and the power sector has become a prime target. This regressive approach may yield short-term financial relief, but it threatens long-term energy security. Worse still, it sends a chilling signal that policy stability in Pakistan is only as reliable as the next fiscal emergency. This is a delicate balancing act between fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability, between immediate revenue needs and long-term energy security. But the answer cannot be to stifle citizen-led progress in favour of short-term gains.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Policy reversal hits solar transition
Listen to article Pakistan's power sector stands at a critical juncture, as a growing mismatch between policy direction and implementation threatens to derail the country's clean energy transition. While the government once championed rooftop solar installations as a long-term solution to rising electricity costs and energy insecurity, it is now reversing course – particularly in the net metering regime – leaving citizens and the business community questioning the state's commitment to renewable energy. Electricity demand in the country hovers around 29,000 megawatts (MW) in peak summer, while the installed generation capacity exceeds 46,000 MW. However, generation remains inefficient due to underutilisation of capacity, poor grid infrastructure, and increasing reliance on imported fuels. Solar energy, once considered a promising alternative, now faces policy obstacles despite contributing around 5% of Pakistan's total electricity generation in 2025. Solar installations, particularly rooftop systems, surged between 2022 and 2024 as households and businesses invested in net metering, lured by generous buyback rates and government incentives. According to official data, net-metered capacity jumped from just over 300 MW in 2021 to 2,813 MW by the end of FY25, with over 280,000 households registered under the scheme. But the government's recent move to slash the buyback rate from Rs27 to Rs10 per unit has sent shockwaves across the solar community. "The solar transition, once seen as a cornerstone of Pakistan's energy future, is now treated like an inconvenience," said Mian Sohail Nisar, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front. "The government encouraged this shift but now refuses to integrate it into the formal power system with a long-term view. This kind of policy inconsistency undermines both investor confidence and public trust." Energy experts argue that the revised net metering policy stems from mounting financial pressure on the national grid. With solar users reducing their dependence on grid electricity and selling surplus power back at high rates, utility companies claim they are struggling to cover fixed infrastructure costs. In 2024 alone, the cost burden shifted onto grid-dependent consumers was estimated at Rs159 billion. Projections suggest this imbalance could rise to over Rs4,000 billion in the next decade if left unchecked. A former power sector official said the problem is not solar energy, it's poor planning. "The government failed to upgrade the distribution network to handle reverse power flows. Now they are blaming solar users for losses that are actually rooted in technical mismanagement and outdated infrastructure." He believes the new gross metering model, which bills users separately for imported and exported electricity, may have merit in principle but has been introduced too abruptly. "Policies like these should be phased in with stakeholder consultation. Instead, we are seeing a knee-jerk reaction to financial strain, which could discourage future investments in clean energy." Consumers who installed solar panels under previous government encouragement feel betrayed. Many invested heavily in hybrid inverters and battery storage, hoping to reduce their dependence on grid electricity and benefit from favourable net metering tariffs. Now, they fear shrinking returns, uncertain billing structures, and even covert replacement of smart meters by distribution companies. The inconsistency in energy policy is not new. Over the past two decades, successive governments have announced ambitious plans, whether for hydropower, LNG terminals, or renewable energy, only to abandon or reverse them due to changing political climates, pressure from utility companies, or International Monetary Fund (IMF)-mandated reforms. Energy analyst Syed Farid Hussain said that the biggest failure is the lack of a unified transition roadmap. "You cannot expect a successful shift to clean energy without aligning grid upgrades, pricing mechanisms, and consumer protection. Piecemeal reforms are not a strategy." He added that with Pakistan's circular debt in the power sector crossing Rs2.6 trillion, pressure is mounting on the state to either raise tariffs or cut losses. Unfortunately, instead of reforming inefficiencies in distribution companies or tackling power theft, the government appears to be placing the burden on solar adopters, those who heeded its own advice, he said. A structural approach is the need of the hour, an approach which cannot be reversed in a couple of years for any reason. "Pakistan does not need policy U-turns; it needs energy clarity. Without that, we risk pushing away the very solutions that could power our future," added Sohail Nisar.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Collectorate Twin Towers Project Reshaped To Save 147-Year-Old Trees
Nagpur: In an encouraging move toward environmental sustainability, the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) redesigned parts of the District Collectorate twin towers project to preserve century-old heritage trees, some over 147-years-old, on the construction site. MSIDC managing director Brijesh Dixit said that 42 trees originally stood within the project's footprint, including trees aged 147, 115, and 112 years. Rather than cutting them down, engineers changed the building design and applied advanced techniques to safeguard these natural assets. A 'tree peat' method was used, allowing the roots to be protected without disturbance. Additionally, geo-textile materials were laid up to 20 feet deep around the roots to ensure their safety during excavation and construction activities. These combined efforts successfully saved six mature trees, which were initially at risk. While authorities already granted permission to fell 36 trees, MSIDC took additional steps to protect as many as possible. "These trees are not merely part of the landscape but represent the living heritage of the city. Our team worked diligently to incorporate environmental care into this massive infrastructure project," Dixit said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid WellnessGuide Learn more Undo In parallel, MSIDC planted 1,735 new trees at various locations across Nagpur as part of compensatory afforestation. Dixit added that clear guidelines have been issued to project teams to prioritise tree conservation throughout the construction period. The twin towers project is envisioned as a green building initiative, featuring extensive use of solar energy, energy-efficient design, and sustainable construction materials. Set to rise on a 30,471-square-metre plot, the 12-floor building will house two auditoriums with capacities of 500 and 300 seats, respectively, along with parking for 450 four-wheelers and 1,200 two-wheelers. As reported by TOI earlier, the project received a funding boost of Rs50 crore and Rs27 crore in two phases and is set to receive more as and when required. The total budget is Rs271 crore. The demolition of older structures, including the tehsildar building, was completed recently to clear space for the new towers. The heritage collectorate building will remain untouched and repurposed. Completion is expected by December 2027. Officials confirmed that demolition work is now fully finished, digging and foundation activities are almost complete, and construction has commenced. They also assured that sufficient funds are available to maintain steady progress and avoid delays. By successfully blending heritage tree preservation with modern infrastructure development, the MSIDC is setting an example for environmentally conscious urban projects.
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Pakistan develops its first-ever indigenous biomolecule to make anti-rabies vaccine
KARACHI: In a historical breakthrough in health and medical sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has successfully achieved lab-scale formulation of Pakistan's first indigenous human anti-rabies vaccine. This milestone positions the country on the path toward self-reliance in combating dog-bite cases that claim many lives every year. The pharmaceutical industry officials confirmed that this is the first-ever indigenous human vaccine developed from a locally achieved biological molecule, creating a new history in the health and medical sciences in Pakistan. The World Bank supported the project. It was implemented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Dow University started commercial production of anti-rabies vaccine from Chinese raw material last year, naming it 'Dow Rab'. Now the university has developed its own indigenous biomolecule that will be used to develop the vaccine. This would reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported vaccines worth billion of rupees in a year. According to the university's website, its Linkedin's post, and confirmation by its officials to Business Recorder 'this (the vaccine) purified, inactivated, lyophilised vaccine has been developed from a locally isolated rabies virus strain, marking a critical step forward in the fight against rabies in Pakistan'. With lab-scale success achieved, the project will now progress to the manufacturing of clinical trial batches for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approval, 'bringing us closer to national vaccine production and use,' the DUHS announcement read. Current state of vaccines in Pakistan Speaking at International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the other day, Macter, Director Quality Operations and Biotech, Farooq Mustafa said Pakistan completely depends on imported vaccines, which are donated and supplied at discounted price worth totaling around Rs26 billion a year with the support of GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. The GVAI support is ending by 2031. This will increase financial burden to Rs100 billion annually in vaccine imports that comes to around four time of the federal health budget at Rs27 billion. The anticipated development do not only suggests a looming crisis in the healthcare system of Pakistan, but at the same time provides an opportunity to the country to shift its focus towards achieving self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing indigenously. Mustafa also wrote in an article that Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines domestically. 'We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programmes, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market,' he said.
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Pakistan develops first-ever indigenous biomolecule to make anti-rabies vaccine
KARACHI: In a historical breakthrough in health and medical sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has successfully achieved lab-scale formulation of Pakistan's first indigenous human anti-rabies vaccine. This milestone positions the country on the path toward self-reliance in combating dog-bite cases that claim many lives every year. The pharmaceutical industry officials confirmed that this is the first ever indigenous human vaccine developed from a locally achieved biological molecule, creating a new history in the health and medical sciences in Pakistan. The World Bank supported the project. It was implemented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Dow University started commercial production of anti-rabies vaccine from Chinese raw material last year, naming it 'Dow Rab'. Now the university has developed its own indigenous biomolecule that will be used to develop anti-rabies vaccine. This would reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported vaccines worth billion of rupees in a year. According to the university's website, its Linkedin's post, and confirmation by its officials to Business Recorder 'this (the vaccine) purified, inactivated, lyophilised vaccine has been developed from a locally isolated rabies virus strain, marking a critical step forward in the fight against rabies in Pakistan'. With lab-scale success achieved, the project will now progress to the manufacturing of clinical trial batches for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approval, 'bringing us closer to national vaccine production and use,' the DUHS announcement read. Current state of vaccines in Pakistan Speaking at International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the other day, Macter, Director Quality Operations and Biotech, Farooq Mustafa said Pakistan completely depends on imported vaccines, which are donated and supplied at discounted price worth totaling around Rs26 billion a year with the support of GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. The GVAI support is ending by 2031. This will increase financial burden to Rs100 billion annually in vaccine imports that comes to around four time of the federal health budget at Rs27 billion. The anticipated development do not only suggests a looming crisis in the healthcare system of Pakistan, but at the same time provides an opportunity to the country to shift its focus towards achieving self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing indigenously. Mustafa also wrote in an article that Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines domestically. 'We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programmes, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market,' he said.
