Ban announced on manufacturing and sale of traditional fans

In a move towards energy conservation, traditional fans will be replaced by new energy efficient fans

ISLAMABAD: The government is going to ban manufacturing and marketing of traditional fans and bulbs from July 1, 2023, Profit learnt on Tuesday. 

The announcement comes around just when the government’s energy efficiency plan through replacement of existing electric items has reportedly been finalised. According to the details, no company in the country will be allowed to manufacture or market the existing traditional fans across the country after June this year as they have been asked to manufacture highly energy efficient fans from July 1.

As per sources, there are approximately 41 million fans installed in houses and other buildings across the country. The ministry of energy will collaborate with power companies (DISCOs) to ensure installation of at least one new highly energy efficient fan in the premise of every consumer under an installment plan of its cost.

As per the approved plan, the price of a new fan may cost more than Rs 12,000 to consumers. However, the price will be adjusted in monthly electricity bills in installments.

According to an official source, fan manufacturing firms have been asked to prepare for producing new fans for which standards have been approved by Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Another department of the ministry, National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (NEECA) has also reportedly finalised and is going to notify the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for manufacturing of only those fans having power factor of less than 80 watts. Meanwhile, PSQCA has also prepared SRO to have legal binding on the manufacturers of fans to produce such fans for implementation of energy efficiency and conservation measures.

Star rated energy efficient fans have been included in the authority’s mandatory list.  As per the MEPS of electric fan, star rating 1 fan will consume less than 80 watts. Similarly, star rating-5 fans will consume up to 45-50 watts with the inclusion of an AC inverter.

Earlier in a meeting held on Monday, the government had also decided to relax regulatory duty on silicon shields needed to import and use in the fans and other electric items for efficiency purposes. Both importers and vendors would be facilitated in this regard.

Ban on manufacturing of traditional bulbs

The plan also includes the ban on energy inefficient bulbs and the tube lights would also be stopped manufacturing and marketing from July 1, 2023. Only energy efficient bulbs of approved standard would be allowed in the market.

The decision, as per the official sources, has been made after consultations with the fan manufacturers association. As per the directions of Khawaja Asif, chairman of the committee on fluorescent bulb and fans, manufacturers have been asked to ensure the upgradation of their plants in accordance with MEPS, so that only high quality energy efficient bulbs and star rated electric fans are manufactured.

Replacement or alteration of existing geysers

The MEPS also includes a plan for ensuring efficiency in the usage of every depleting natural gas of the country. In this regard, the government has also planned to replace or alter the existing millions of geysers across the country. However, since winter has almost passed, the plan will be implemented before next winter.

According to documents, PSQCA in consultation with NEECA has revised the MEPS of geysers, wherein, conical baffles have been declared mandatory. For this purpose the revised standard for the geysers has already been notified and being implemented with effect from December 1, 2023. Out of the total 13 manufacturers of geysers, 12 manufacturers are complying with the revised standard.

The manufacturers have also been asked to produce timer devices and ensure digital tools in new geysers. The ministry of petroleum in collaboration with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) SNGPL and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) would ensure the installation of conical baffles and other tools in the millions of existing geysers across the country.

 

Ghulam Abbas
Ghulam Abbas
The writer is a member of the staff at the Islamabad Bureau. He can be reached at [email protected]

16 COMMENTS

  1. Instead replacing all fans; which is not a workable solution, i would like to sugggest government should depute researchers to invent a device which could be installed with existing fans to make it an energy saver fan.

      • Inverter Fan are avialble in market.
        if new supply of old technolody is stoped then every one will move to next.
        consumer only buy new technology.
        old fan can be repair and reused.
        govt only ban on new produciton.

    • Majority of population is using old design fans. Kindly help out to develop, produce and market affordable conversion kits rather than forcing people to purchase new technology fans.
      1.It will ease life of common person by reduction in their utility bills
      2.It will reduce pressure on energy production sector at national level.
      3.It will help reduction in energy import bills
      4.It will help to avoid wastage of materials (Fans) already in use

  2. Policy is not workable. Only what can be ensured is that Government should pick up 100 percent old stock available with vendors and replace it with energy efficient fans and geysers. But Government cannot even do that in a corrupt environment existing till grass root level in Pakistan

  3. These all tactics and new laws and launched to increase the rate of bribe and nothing else…

    • I think some kind of rebate or incentive may be given to the consumers in their monthly bills , who show their willingness to replace their existing fans with the new inverter fans by showing the purchase of fans from an authorised vendor and moreover fans should also be given to the consumer on monthly installments for ease and workability. as far as geysers with timer device and use of baffle is concerned same method be adopted as mentioned above only then there would a positive response my dear . otherwise it will remain a policy in files as happening since last 75 years. moreover 5 years incentive and rebate be given to manufacturers in custom duties and taxes for production in bulk and less price for the consumers which also remains questionable due to vested interests of our drcision makinglot sitting on the seats looking for kickbacks

  4. A start is good. Direction should be set and deletion for 90-100% parts manufactured locally within 3-4 years should become a permanent policy. Only then will the engineering industry flourish, and Pakistan too!!

  5. This is a stupid idea and exhibits connivance with the fan manufacturers, forcing people to replace fans. I am an engineer and i know that most of the ceiling fans of reputable brands already consume 80 watts or less.

    what they should do instead is to take a long term approach and regulate the industry such that sub standard items cannot be produced and sold in the market. this should be applicable to all appliances and devices. once this is done, in a longer run everything will eventually be replaced by the efficient items and at no cost to government and with out forcing the consumer.

    • Totally agree. Until technical folks & people with vision are given the ownership of their field of specialization, nothing will change for good. Working as an engneer in a government job has given me the firm faith that reforming the system is futile. Because the main hurdle in the system is the “more German than the German themselves” colonial era gifted termite ridden bureaucracy, where the jack of all masters of none bucreaucrat is clueless about the issue at hand yet he is fixed in any ministry as a lego piece at will. Until this system of governance is reformed to improve the efficiency & progress, expect worse.

  6. worse yet to come…….
    as ur a muslim country, stop Mujra, Mazar worshipping and give ur verse/quotes a limit (ur so called shero-shairee). It’s almost near to Shirk- You idiots 👎

  7. why the price of the fans which as mentioned is 12000Rs is to be included / adjusted in consumer’s electricity bill?
    this will add to taxes already to be paid by the consumer.

  8. I requested gas supply SNGPL last year as well this year to send me conical baffles for my gyser but didn’t receive. you are expecting to implementation from these people.

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