Pakistan's Popular Bridal Dowry: Chinese Solar Panels
As Pakistan has become one of the world's largest importers of solar panels, the British magazine The Economist recently stated that, with the help of Chinese technology, Pakistan has already become a "testing ground" for green energy transition among countries in the Global South. Data shows that more than 95% of the solar panels imported by Pakistan are made in China. From 2022 to 2024, the number of Chinese solar panels imported by Pakistan each year increased nearly fivefold.
According to an observer from the Global Times stationed in Pakistan, in recent years, an increasing number of Pakistani families have chosen to install solar panels on their rooftops. This trend is not only popular in cities but also becoming increasingly common in rural areas. The reporter's friend Ahmed, whose hometown is in the rural area of Punjab, said that when his niece got married, the bride's parents promised to install a set of solar panels for the newlyweds as soon as possible. Solar facilities from China are considered an excellent investment by Pakistanis and have even been included in the list of dowry items.
Pakistani media believe that the country's growing solar power trend is led by the people and empowered by Chinese technology. Although Pakistan's electricity supply level is constantly improving, people still complain about high electricity bills and regional power cuts during peak hours. Especially in rural areas, the quality of grid infrastructure is not high, and the power supply for households and production is unstable. Chinese solar panels have brought unprecedented changes.
"Our solar installation projects are concentrated mostly in residential, agricultural, or industrial sectors," said Wajahat Musa, chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association. Solar energy already had a foundation of acceptance in Pakistan, and people were already accustomed to using innovative ways to deal with power outages. The solar power boom has also created new job opportunities and generated demand for technical workers. At the same time, the Pakistani government has also introduced loan subsidies for solar panels.
According to the reporter's understanding, current solar power in Pakistan still has certain limitations, such as high prices for energy storage batteries, which most local families can't afford. In addition, solar power can only serve as supplementary energy and cannot meet the power needs at night. Therefore, there is still great room for development for solar power in Pakistan. (Reporter Cheng Shijie, special correspondent of the Global Times in Pakistan)
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848005005599756/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.