Islamabad (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – 21 March 2026) Federalism Energy Minister Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari said on Saturday that the idea that the government is against solar energy is completely wrong and that it fully supports solar energy but only in a way that suits all consumers and does not unfairly burden non-solar consumers.
He said in a statement issued here that solar energy replaces the energy generated from fossil fuels, but this only happens during solar hours of the day.
During night time, fixed/dispatchable power generation sources are mandatory for the power grid to remain stable and meet dynamically changing load conditions. He said it is a global fact that high solar penetration on unmanaged rooftops presents challenges to grid stability, including requirements for steep evening slopes that already increase reliance on flexible gas-based generation.
He said that given the unprecedented disruption in LNG supplies following the force majeure declared by Qatar Energy Company amid the US-Israeli-Iran conflict, a certain degree of cross-sector demand management has become difficult to avoid.
He said that although there may be limited cuts in the fertilizer sector during such crises, it is usually managed carefully given its importance to us. food protection.
Likewise, any restrictions imposed on high-level commercial or domestic consumers will be targeted, temporary, and driven by regime imperatives, not policy preferences. He said that the ultimate goal in such exceptional circumstances is to achieve a balance between supply and demand, protect priority sectors, and maintain system stability without provoking widespread consumer unrest.
Leghari said the proposal to completely switch to coal-based generation and close gas plants does not reflect how the power system should operate optimally.
In practice, domestic coal plants are already prioritized in the order of merit due to their relatively low fuel cost and are dispatched accordingly. However, gas-based plants play a critical role in providing flexibility, especially during periods of peak demand and to manage rapidly increasing requirements, such as switching when solar generation declines as the sun sets and consumers return to the grid.
He said that completely marginalizing gas stations would jeopardize the system’s stability and operational response.
Therefore, a balanced distribution strategy is practiced where coal provides base generation and gas supports flexibility. This is essential for the network to operate reliably, he said.
Emphasizing that gas is rising, Leghari said Prices Because captive energy has pushed the industry off the grid it is not fully supported by modern trends. In fact, after the restrictive energy tax was imposed, demand on the grid increased dramatically, suggesting that industrial consumers are largely staying connected to the grid rather than moving away from it.
This is further enhanced by the government’s surplus power package, which provides electricity at around PKR 23/kWh, which has provided strong power. price A signal to maintain the industrial load on the system. For example, January 2026 recorded the highest demand ever with an increase of 12.1% year-on-year, while February 2026 also saw strong growth of about 11% year-on-year in energy demand. During the first two months, industrial consumers collectively achieved savings of about PKR 12 lakh one billion He said that under the surplus capacity package.
He said this is not the time to score points, but the time to acknowledge it Pakistan It manages the current global energy crisis in a thoughtful, strategic and effective manner.
He said that thanks to the largely domestic and diversified power generation mix, the potential impact on electricity supply is greatly mitigated, if not avoided entirely, despite the long conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran affecting LNG supplies.
Leghari said the government is also vigorously seeking to implement other reforms, including privatizing state-owned enterprises and allowing third-party access to the electricity grid under the liberalized market, and has already made notable progress in many areas.
With respect to solar energy, consumers are actively encouraged to install their own solar or other clean energy systems in a fair and “fair” manner that does not unfairly burden other consumers. He said that the government’s focus remains on ensuring energy security, maintaining system stability, and supporting economic continuity in this unprecedented period of global energy uncertainty.