Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken immediate notice of the new solar regulations issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and directed the Power Division to promptly seek a review to safeguard existing net metering agreements and shield grid consumers from any added financial strain.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister instructed the Power Division to file an appeal before NEPRA without delay. The move is aimed at protecting the rights of current solar consumers and ensuring that all previously signed agreements remain fully intact.

During the meeting, the prime minister stressed that fairness within the power system must be upheld. He stated that the financial implications associated with solar net metering should not be transferred to the majority of electricity users who rely exclusively on the national grid. 

Highlighting the scale of the issue, he noted that around 466,000 solar consumers are currently benefiting from net metering, and any policy revision must not unfairly impact more than 37.6 million consumers who depend entirely on grid electricity.

He further directed the Power Division to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the national electricity system remains balanced, sustainable, and equitable for all consumers. 

The directives were issued during a special high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad to assess NEPRA’s latest solar-related framework and its potential consequences for consumers and the broader power sector.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal Chatha, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali, along with senior officials from relevant departments.

Officials briefed the prime minister on the anticipated impact of the revised regulatory structure on power sector operations and financial sustainability. The prime minister reiterated that while the government remains committed to promoting renewable energy, policy reforms must maintain system stability, protect investor confidence, and ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition are fairly distributed across the consumer base.