The use of solar panels

Letter June 20, 2011
It is interesting that in Bangladesh, solar power is making a huge difference in people’s lives, unlike in Pakistan.

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar recently said that the number of people consuming solar energy in Pakistan had increased to 10 million.

A few days back, it was reported that the number of households in Bangladesh using solar panels has crossed the one million mark — the fastest expansion of solar use in the world.

It is interesting that in Bangladesh, solar power is making a huge difference in people’s lives, as previously almost 60 per cent of Bangladesh had no access to electricity. But in Pakistan, where the number of people apparently using solar electricity is 10 times that of Bangladesh, the positive effects of this are not being felt.

Mubashir Mahmood

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2011.