Governor calls for policy to boost local solar manufacturing

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has urged the government to adopt a policy that encourages domestic production of solar systems, according to Business Recorder. Addressing the third edition of the International Solar Power Conclave and Solar Technology Excellence Awards 2026 in Lahore on Friday, he argued that a local solar base could bring large-scale employment, cheaper clean power and foreign currency inflows. The governor said he found it unfortunate that such equipment is not being made in Pakistan because no government policy exists.

He said high power costs have made solar energy more important for ordinary households, calling sunlight a divine gift that could ease electricity bills while protecting the environment. Punjab Energy Minister Faisal Ayub recalled that the worst load-shedding crisis, which began in 2009-10, was overcome during the 2013-18 PML-N government, while the present difficulty is costly power.

Naeem Qureshi, Managing Editor of Energy Update, said the organisation was marking its 20th anniversary after launching in 2006 to promote renewable energy, and that it has organised around 180 seminars, workshops and conferences. Dr Naveed Arshad of LUMS described battery storage as a significant new feature of the energy sector and outlined five shifts shaping Pakistan's transition by 2035. A second panel, moderated by Dr Jawaria Shakeel of Assure International, looked at investment in photovoltaic systems and solar batteries.