Pakistan has imported over 50 GW of solar panels from China, including 18 GW during the country’s last fiscal year. In the absence of official installation figures, Islamabad-based think tank Renewables First says up to 33 GW of solar capacity could have been deployed in Pakistan so far.
Pakistan imported a total of 51.5 GW of solar panels from China in November 2025, according to figures from energy think tank Renewables First.
Data available through Renewables First’s solar analysis portal highlights that imports of Chinese solar panels have increased in Pakistan over the past two fiscal years. By the end of the most recent fiscal year, in June 2025, Pakistan had imported a total of 48 GW of modules, with associated costs totaling more than $2 billion.
Image: Renewable energy first
There is currently no official data on Pakistan’s cumulative solar capacity due to data limitations in tracking behind-the-meter and off-grid installations. Only official data is available on Pakistan’s net metering capacity, the latest of which confirms that 6.8 GW had been installed by September 2025.
Rabia Babar, Manager Data for Energy & Climate at Renewables First, explains pv magazine those estimates suggest that between 27 GW and 33 GW of solar capacity has been deployed across various market segments, including net metering, in Pakistan.
“The widespread adoption of solar energy is increasingly reflected in declining demand for electricity grids in the afternoon compared to previous years, followed by sharp peaks in demand in the evening – typical of networks with high solar penetration,” Babar explains.
Babar added that solar adoption in Pakistan is highest in the residential market, but adoption is also strong among C&I customers. “In 2026, deployment is expected to increase further, mainly driven by residential, C&I and agricultural consumers,” she predicted, adding that continued imports of Chinese solar panels in the current fiscal year indicate continued growth in solar adoption.
In contrast, no large-scale solar projects came online in Pakistan last year. The country’s cumulative utility-scale solar capacity is estimated at approx 780 MW.
Looking ahead, Babar says greater access to battery storage could influence consumer behavior in 2026, with the economics of solar-plus-storage systems appealing to both residential and commercial customers.
Babar also said proposals to shift the net metering framework to a net billing model, which is currently under consideration, could potentially create uncertainty for investors.
“New users may face lower incentives, which could erode confidence and financing for residential and C&I solar projects,” Babar explains. “In my view, clear government policies and timelines can enable the market to adapt smoothly to coming changes.”
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