KARACHI: Rooftop solar panels are on the rise as more Pakistanis choose solar electricity over the national grid, alarming a government burdened with billions of dollars in power sector debt.
As consumers seek to avoid skyrocketing electricity costs and extended power outages, the quiet energy revolution has extended from affluent neighborhoods to middle- and lower-class homes.
Residents of Karachi’s megacity congregate in Fareeda Saleem’s humble home down a narrow alley to fight the oppressive summer heat for something they have never had before: unbroken power.
She explains, “Solar makes life easier, but it’s a hard choice for people like us,” in reference to the cost of installation.
