The Sindh government has announced it will cover 80% of the expenses for 200,000 ‘solar home systems’ (SHS) set to be distributed to low-income households across the province.
On Saturday, the government signed framework agreements with three international firms—Bboxx Ltd from the UK, Shenzen LEMI Technology Development Co. Ltd from China, and D.light Design Ltd from the USA—to provide each of these families with a solar panel, battery, one DC fan, three LED bulbs, and a mobile phone charging facility.
The total estimated cost for each system is Rs55,000, but with the government’s subsidy, eligible families will pay only Rs6,000 each.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah made this announcement during the signing ceremony at CM House. Shah indicated that the first batch of 50,000 solar home systems would arrive in Karachi by the end of October for distribution.
This initiative is part of the World Bank-supported $100 million Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), which aims to provide free electricity to off-grid consumers and those using 100 units per month. The decision came after it was revealed that there are 2.6 million off-grid households and nearly two million households using 100 units per month in the province.
The SSEP, funded with Rs27.4 billion and $100 million from the World Bank, will include each solar home system’s 80-100 W solar PV plate, an 18 AH lithium-ion battery, a DC fan, three LED bulbs, and a mobile phone charging facility. The systems, including transport, taxes, and duties, are valued around Rs55,000, with the government’s subsidy reducing the cost to Rs6,000 for beneficiaries.
The implementation will follow a Bulk Procurement Model through international bidding, aligning with World Bank procurement guidelines.