Islamabad: Pakistan’s energy landscape is rapidly evolving, particularly with the increasing adoption of solar energy across both rural and urban areas.
According to Gallup Pakistan’s Big Data series, the 2024-25 Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), solar energy usage expanded significantly, driven by both affordability improvements and government incentives.
With a notable increase in rural solar adoption and ongoing efforts to bridge the gap in urban areas, solar power is seen as a sustainable solution to Pakistan’s energy access challenges, especially in underserved and off-grid communities.
The 2024-25 HIES provides analysis of solar energy adoption, including solar-powered lighting, solar cookers and solar panel installations in households across Pakistan including provincial variations in adoption rates and the economic barriers to wider implementation.
As per survey, 16 percent of rural households now use solar energy, up from 10 percent in previous surveys while 8 percent of urban households use solar energy, showing growth from 5 percent in past years. As much as 13 percent of rural households adopted solar-powered stoves, reducing reliance on firewood and gas whereas 38 percent of rural households use solar lighting systems, a 25 percent increase over the last five years. Sindh and Balochistan lead solar adoption, with 22 percent of households using solar energy. Government subsidies lowered installation costs by 20-25 percent over the past five years.
