Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the government of committing “outright fraud” with the public by changing net metering policies after encouraging them to invest heavily in solar energy, with the party claiming that this move is causing financial losses to millions of consumers.
During a protest demonstration held at UP Mor in North Karachi on Tuesday, PDP Karachi President Abdul Hakim Quaid described the government’s constant policy changes and deviation from promises as a severe form of oppression on a public already distressed by the energy crisis and inflation.
He demanded an immediate end to these “injustices” and urged the elimination of the series of unnecessary fees, deductions, and administrative hurdles imposed on individuals adopting solar energy.
Addressing the protesters, Quaid argued that the public was first encouraged to install solar systems with promises of energy self-sufficiency, but were later subjected to financial losses through low net metering rates, strict new conditions, and technical excuses.
The PDP leader urged the government to bring consistency and transparency to its energy policies to restore public trust. He emphasized that the real solution to the country’s energy crisis lies in the promotion and expansion of renewable sources, especially solar energy, not in creating obstacles to its adoption.
Quaid compared Pakistan’s situation with global trends, stating that while other countries are providing facilities to encourage solar energy, in Pakistan, consumers are being punished for their investment. The protest was also attended by other party leaders, including Muhammad Aslam Malik, Syed Rizwan-ul-Haq, Mohsin Sheikh, and Muhammad Ramzan Rajput.