- Pakistan’s 25% solar share brings cleaner power, reduced fuel imports, and greater economic stability
- Pakistan leads region in solar electricity share, outpacing India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka decisively
Interview with Mr. Khalid Jamil Ansari, an analyst
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Khalid Jamil Ansari: With over 35 years in the marketing and finance industry, I offer a broad range of skills, including Human Resource Management, Banking, Marketing, Administration, and Academics. My expertise covers project appraisal, HR management, training and development, general administration, investment and general banking operations, marketing, special assets management, lease financing, and consumer banking. Throughout my career, I have successfully implemented strategies across HR, marketing, legal, and banking sectors, consistently achieving positive results. As a trainer certified by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, I have over a decade of experience training officers and senior executives, including front-line employees. My training approach emphasizes deep engagement with participants, aiming to equip them with valuable knowledge, new skills, and a motivated, enthusiastic mindset.
My goal is to ensure that participants leave ready to tackle new challenges in both their professional and personal lives. My training areas include Human Resource Management, Banking, Sales & Marketing, Leadership Skills, Emotional Skills, Communication, Corporate Etiquette, Grooming, and Performance Management.
I currently serve as a consultant at ICMA Pakistan’s Center of Excellence (COE). In this capacity, I am responsible for managing training and development initiatives, as well as overseeing marketing functions. I have a strong command of both written and spoken English and Urdu, along with proficiency in various regional languages. My skill set also includes impressive presentation and interpersonal abilities. I possess the flexibility and drive to lead a team, while also excelling when working independently to meet challenging deadlines.
PAGE: Wind corridor along Sindh coast boasts abundance of clean energy, but infrastructure and administrative issues mean even installed wind turbines are not running at full capacity. What is your standpoint?
Khalid Jamil Ansari: The Sindh coast has strong winds that can produce a lot of clean energy through wind turbines. This is a big opportunity for Pakistan to reduce pollution, lower fuel imports, and fix energy shortages. But even though many wind turbines are already installed, they are not working at full capacity. Why? Because of problems like poor electricity connections, delays in government approvals, and late payments to energy companies.
In short:
The wind energy potential is great, but it’s being wasted due to bad planning and management.
What needs to happen:
- Improve the electricity network.
- Fix government delays and red tape.
- Create clear, long-term policies to attract investors.
If Pakistan fixes these issues, the wind corridor could play a big role in providing clean and reliable energy for the country.
PAGE: There are 36 wind power producers (WPPs) that have set up electricity generation plants along the Gharo-Jhimpir ‘wind energy corridor’ of Thatta and Jamshoro. These plants have a combined capacity of around 1,845 megawatts. What is your take on this?
Khalid Jamil Ansari: There are 36 wind power plants in the Gharo-Jhimpir area, with a total capacity of 1,845 megawatts. That’s a big step forward for clean energy in Pakistan. But the problem is: many of these plants are not running at full power because of weak electricity connections and slow government processes.
In simple terms:
Pakistan has built a lot of wind energy, but it’s not fully using it.
What needs to be done:
- Improve the electricity system (so power can be delivered properly).
- Fix delays in approvals and payments.
- Make sure future projects don’t face the same problems.
This way, the country can get the full benefit of clean, cheap wind energy.
PAGE: Pakistan has joined the ‘25% solar club’, with solar becoming the single largest contributor to grid electricity, surpassing gas, water and coal. What is your perspective?
Khalid Jamil Ansari: Pakistan has reached a major energy milestone—solar power now provides over 25% of the country’s electricity, surpassing gas, coal, and hydroelectric power. That places it among a small group of countries where solar energy is the primary source of electricity.
Why this happened
- Huge solar imports from China helped Pakistan brought in a record amount of solar panels in 2024 and 2025.
- Many homes and businesses installed rooftop solar to avoid rising electricity bills.
- Industries are also using solar plus batteries to save money and power their operations.
Benefits
- Cheaper power:
Solar has no fuel costs.
- Less reliance on imported fuels like gas or coal.
- Better for the environment: It reduces pollution and carbon emissions.
But There Are Some Challenges
- Poorer people or renters can’t afford solar, so they still rely on expensive grid electricity.
- The electric grid isn’t ready for so much solar—it needs upgrades to avoid blackouts or waste.
- Old power plants still get paid even if not used, increasing the costs for others.
What Needs to Be Done
To make this success fair and long-lasting, Pakistan should:
- Help low-income families access solar.
- Improve the grid to handle solar better.
- Change rules so everyone shares costs fairly.
- Create local jobs by making more solar parts in Pakistan.
This is a big win for Pakistan—cleaner, cheaper power is now leading. But to keep it fair and reliable, smart planning and better policies are needed so everyone can benefit, not just the wealthy.
PAGE: The energy mix in the region is fast changing. Where does Pakistan stand vis-a-vis its regional counterparts?
Khalid Jamil Ansari: Pakistan’s position in the region’s energy shift
Pakistan
- Leading in solar:
Over 25% of electricity now comes from solar — the highest share in the region.
- Solar is now Pakistan’s biggest electricity source, beating gas, coal, and water.
- This happened fast because of massive imports of cheap Chinese solar panels and a rooftop solar boom.
India
- More total clean energy: About 46% of power capacity comes from renewables like solar, wind, and hydro.
- But solar makes up 22% of capacity — less than Pakistan’s solar share in actual electricity used.
- India is ahead in total numbers, but Pakistan has a bigger solar share of actual electricity.
Bangladesh
- Far behind:
Only around 5.6% of electricity comes from solar.
- Government is now starting to push rooftop solar on public buildings.
Sri Lanka
- Data is unclear right now, but it’s not leading the region in solar or renewables.
Bottom line:
- Pakistan is leading the region in terms of how much of its electricity comes from solar.
- India is ahead in total renewable energy investment and capacity.
- Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are still behind, but trying to catch up.