THE Punjab government is planning to grant free solar panels with inverters and batteries up to 1kW to people using less than a hundred electricity units monthly. This is bound to help many a household overcome the rising cost of living.

If the applicants are more than the budgeted amount, the distribution of free panels and paraphernalia will be done through balloting. This is where the problem lies. There is a good chance that all the deserving people will not be able to benefit from the scheme.

On the contrary, India announced the decision to provide free electricity up to 300 units monthly to all those whose rooftops are suitable for the installation of solar panels, and it has already provided the required sum in the budget.

Let us also follow the Indian example to provide relief to our people who are seriously struggling to survive under the ever-rising cost of living.

As the solar panels will be connected to the national grid, the excess energy, if any, will flow to the system, thereby benefitting the power service providers as well. It is hoped that the federal government will take such innovative initiatives in the interest of power consumers as well as power suppliers.

Riaz Bhutta
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2024