Miftah Ismail Slams Government’s Net Metering Policy, Calls It Unfair
Karachi, March 21, 2025: Former Finance Minister and economist Miftah Ismail has strongly criticized the government’s revised net metering policy, which reduces the buyback rate for solar electricity. Speaking at a press conference, he argued that the decision will increase the financial burden on electricity consumers and contradicts the government’s earlier push for solar adoption.
Ismail pointed out that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recently encouraged the public to switch to solar energy. However, now that more people are moving towards renewable sources, the government appears to be discouraging it. He accused policymakers of making short-sighted decisions that negatively impact the public.
The former minister also alleged that past decisions, driven by financial interests, led to the installation of costly power plants, which are now a major reason behind rising electricity prices. He criticized the government for backtracking on agreements with net metering consumers and imposing additional taxes on solar energy users.
Meanwhile, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved amendments to the net metering regulations, reducing the buyback rate to Rs. 10 per unit. The decision, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, aims to manage the growing number of net metering users and its financial impact on the national grid. The policy allows NEPRA to adjust the buyback rate periodically based on market conditions.
The new policy has sparked concerns among solar energy consumers, with experts warning that it could discourage renewable energy adoption and increase reliance on expensive grid electricity.