Pakistan’s power sector is a cautionary tale of economic mismanagement. Like a patient on perpetual life support, it survives only through massive government subsidies and stopgap measures, prompting renowned economist Dr. Atif Mian to label it a “zombie sector” – an apt metaphor for an entity that continues to drain the nation’s resources while showing few signs of life.
In response to this crisis, the government has reached for what it hopes will be a cure: aggressive renegotiation of contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). But even as headlines focus on these high-stakes confrontations, a more fundamental transformation is quietly unfolding across Pakistan’s urban and industrial landscape. Frustrated by soaring electricity costs and persistent outages, consumers are increasingly turning to solar panels, abandoning their reliance on the national grid.
This solar exodus presents policymakers with an unprecedented dilemma. Each new solar installation, while offering relief to consumers, potentially undermines the very reforms meant to save the power sector. The government now finds itself walking a precarious tightrope – attempting to preserve grid sustainability while respecting consumers’ right to choose cheaper energy alternatives.
As this crisis deepens, one question looms large: Can the government’s efforts to resurrect the power sector succeed in the face of this accelerating solar revolution? Profit explores the ramifications of these trends on Pakistan’s energy future. The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
