How Pakistan’s people-led solar boom is easing impact of Middle East energy crisis

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Chloé FarandMarch 17, 2026 at 02:00 PM

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long article 5 min

Pakistan has experienced a significant surge in rooftop solar installations since 2022, driven by rising LNG prices following the war in Ukraine and government incentives. This shift towards solar energy has been led by individuals seeking a cheaper and more reliable alternative to the national grid, which was plagued by power cuts. The share of electricity generated by solar increased fivefold between December 2021 and December 2025, reaching approximately one-fifth of the country's grid-supplied electricity in 2024. As of February 2026, this solar expansion has helped Pakistan avoid approximately $12 billion in oil and gas imports, providing a buffer against the impacts of the Middle East energy crisis and reducing reliance on LNG for power generation, especially during daylight hours.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Haneea Isaad 40% Lahore 40% Ember 40% Qatar 40% Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air 40% Ukraine 50% Strait of Hormuz 50% Russia 60% Iran ×260% Nabiya Imran ×270% Renewables First ×380% Pakistan ×790%

Keywords

solar energy 100% energy crisis 90% rooftop solar 80% pakistan 70% electricity generation 60% energy market 50% liquefied natural gas 50% government incentives 40% oil and gas imports 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.40

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Pakistan

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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solar energy energy crisis rooftop solar pakistan electricity generation energy market liquefied natural gas government incentives oil and gas imports

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