Karachi’s industrial and financial leaders have proposed a new not-for-profit solar power framework aimed at directing surplus solar energy to low-income and deserving households. The initiative seeks to reduce government subsidy burdens and ease pressure on industrial tariffs, while promoting sustainable energy use.
The proposal, named the Social Net-Metering Unit Donation Framework (SNUDA), was originally developed by business leader and former Karachi Stock Exchange managing director Moin M. Fudda. The initiative is now being championed by the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry as a way to integrate commercial solar generation with social support programs.
Under SNUDA, excess electricity generated from commercial and industrial rooftop solar installations would be fed into a designated charity-oriented pool. This surplus energy would then be allocated to deserving households using the existing net-metering infrastructure, allowing energy sharing without adding costs to the national grid.
Proponents argue that the framework could reduce the government’s subsidy burden, help lower industrial tariffs by easing cross-subsidy pressures, and improve recovery rates while reducing distribution losses for power companies. They noted that converting unused solar energy into social benefit aligns economic efficiency with social impact amid rising energy costs.
The proposal comes as rooftop and commercial solar adoption in Pakistan has been steadily increasing. Industries have been turning to solar solutions to cut electricity costs, and solar already contributes a growing share to distributed generation in the country.
Supporters also highlighted that SNUDA could complement existing energy policies, helping industrial consumers meet environmental goals while contributing to energy equity. By turning surplus clean energy into a social asset, the framework aims to provide both economic and social benefits to Pakistan’s energy sector.
Also read: Check Solar Panel Prices In Pakistan
