ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting solar energy in Pakistan, pledging not to hinder the country’s rapid solarisation drive. Speaking at the launch of the ‘Power Smart’ mobile application in Islamabad, he described solar power as the most affordable and sustainable solution for Pakistan’s energy needs.
“The government will never discourage the solarisation boom—it’s the cheapest way to generate electricity,” the premier said, adding that Pakistan is among the few countries witnessing swift adoption of solar energy.
Addressing the challenges arising from declining grid demand due to increased solar installations, PM Shehbaz said the government is actively working on solutions to balance the system.
At the event, he officially launched the ‘Power Smart’ app under the ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading’ initiative. The app allows consumers to upload a photograph of their electricity meter on a designated date, which will be used to generate their monthly bill—prioritising consumer-submitted readings over utility staff entries.
“This is not just a feature—it’s a governance reform that gives power back to the people,” said the Power Division. The initiative aims to reduce overbilling complaints and protect subsidy-eligible users from billing errors that push them into higher tariff slabs.
The app supports five regional languages and is now available on both Android and iOS platforms.
Energy Minister Sardar Awais Leghari called the move a major step toward transparency, noting that billions in overbilled amounts have already been refunded to consumers.
In another relief measure, PM Shehbaz announced the removal of the Rs35 Pakistan Television (PTV) fee from electricity bills to ease household expenses.
The prime minister also highlighted critical reforms in the power sector, including merit-based appointments in power distribution companies (Discos), successful negotiations with independent power producers (IPPs), and a Rs7.5/unit reduction in power tariffs.
He acknowledged that while reforms have begun to show results, power theft—costing around Rs500 billion annually—remains a key challenge.
“We’ve started the journey of reform and will continue to cut electricity prices for both households and industries,” PM Shehbaz concluded, urging widespread awareness about the Power Smart app to ensure its success.
Story by Syed Irfan Raza
