Fatima Mirza
Electricity shortages are more than an inconvenience for the people who live in Gilgit-Baltistan. The power shortages affect students who are preparing for exams, shopkeepers who are trying to keep their businesses running and families who are managing their daily routines. The federal government’s distribution of around 100,000 free solar panels has brought fresh attention to this long-standing problem.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the figure on October 31, 2026, ahead of Gilgit-Baltistan’s 79th National Day. He said that the government had distributed approximately 100,000 panels through a digital balloting process. The announcement marked a major stage in a programme that initially started with the federal government’s decision to put confiscated solar equipment to public use.
The story goes back to February 12, when the Economic Coordination Committee approved the distribution of 144,875 confiscated solar panels in the region. The Federal Board of Revenue took possession of the solar equipment at Karachi ports. The federal government decided to transfer the stock for public use instead of leaving the panels unused.
The approved stock had a combined capacity of 58.8 megawatts. The officials then worked out how to divide the equipment among different groups. Domestic consumers received the largest allocation, around 63.7 percent, businesses received 30.6 percent, while the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme received 3.9 percent. Another 1.7 percent went to people who live in off-grid areas.
The business allocation also had a specific purpose. Forty percent went to information technology enterprises, while the remaining 60 percent covered hospitals, educational institutions and small businesses that support local livelihoods.
Getting the panels to the mountainous region was another challenge. The government estimated transportation and handling costs at Rs240.1 million, or around Rs1,623 per panel. The Gilgit-Baltistan government agreed to cover these expenses through regional funds and recover the money from beneficiaries later.
The authorities also faced an important question: how would they select the recipients fairly? Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari addressed this issue during a steering committee meeting on March 10. He directed officials to arrange transparent public balloting and involve journalists and community representatives in the process.
The distribution plan moved ahead two days later. On March 12, Caretaker Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (R) Yar Muhammad inaugurated digital balloting in Gilgit. The system aimed to give eligible applicants an equal opportunity and reduce complaints of favouritism. Chief Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed also discussed the programme’s role in improving electricity access and promoting renewable energy.
While the distribution process continued, Islamabad was preparing a wider energy plan for the region. During a meeting on July 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed several development projects with senior officials. One major proposal involved installing 18 megawatts of rooftop solar systems, along with battery storage, in 499 government buildings by December 2026.
The July briefing also covered an additional 82-megawatt utility-scale solar project. Officials submitted the project’s PC-I to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for approval. The project aimed to benefit around 1.3 million people and improve the region’s electricity supply.
Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani attended the meeting. Shehbaz Sharif asked the Power Division to speed up the required work. He also stressed transparent procurement and independent checks before the release of payments.
The government returned to the issue in October. On October 30, 2026, Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting in Islamabad with Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain and other officials. The discussion covered energy projects, hydropower, roads and digital development. The Prime Minister asked federal departments to remove delays, arrange funds and improve coordination with the regional administration.
There is an important difference between the numbers involved in the distribution of solar panels. The 144,875 panels refer to the total stock approved for distribution, while the 100,000 figure represents the number the prime minister reported as distributed by October 31. The 58.8-megawatt capacity belongs to the approved stock. The separate 100-megawatt initiative covers the wider solar energy programme, including further installations and projects.
For residents, the value of the scheme rests on what happens after the announcements. A solar system gives a household another source of electricity during power cuts. A shopkeeper gets support for daily business activities, while schools and health facilities gain another option for meeting their energy needs. These benefits are important in remote communities where electricity shortages affect ordinary life.
The government still needs to complete the remaining distribution, install systems in the planned 499 public buildings and move the 82-megawatt project through the approval process. Authorities also need to maintain the equipment and ensure that the benefits reach the intended communities.
The programme has moved from a February approval to digital balloting in March and a major distribution milestone in October. The reported delivery of 100,000 solar panels marks real progress. For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, however, the most important result will not be the number announced at a meeting. It will be fewer hours without electricity and a more dependable power supply in everyday life.
