Policy on solar power production needs clarity: Khurram Nawaz Gandapur

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Secretary-General of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), has stated that the federal cabinet has approved revised agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with one contract even being canceled. He said that for years, the nation was repeatedly told that IPP contracts could not be touched, as doing so could drag Pakistan into international courts. However, the cabinet’s decision to revise agreements and terminate one contract has proven that it was indeed possible to renegotiate these oppressive agreements.

The PAT Secretary General added that this deliberate negligence has burdened the nation with expensive electricity, leading millions of families into debt due to skyrocketing utility bills. He said businesses were devastated, and small enterprises nearly disappeared.

Gandapur demanded that IPP agreements be evaluated against international standards and that electricity prices be brought in line with those in other regional countries such as Bangladesh and India.

He also questioned why unfair and anti-public agreements with IPPs were signed in the first place, causing mental anguish to a population of 250 million.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur further criticized the government for obstructing the installation of solar panels and green meters as citizens turned to solar energy due to the high cost of electricity. Initially, the government campaigned in favor of solar panels, encouraging people to adopt the technology, only to delay permissions later under the pretense of sustaining the bureaucratic inefficiency of WAPDA.

He urged the government to clarify its policy regarding solar power production and address the barriers being placed in its implementation.