The Power Division has cleared more than 11,600 pending net metering applications as part of a government drive to speed up approvals and improve transparency for consumers seeking to connect rooftop solar systems to the national grid.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the division said 11,695 applications had been verified and approved out of 16,654 cases that were pending during the transition from the net metering system to the new net billing framework. The remaining 4,959 applications are still under review.
The verification campaign was launched on the instructions of Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, who directed authorities to resolve genuine consumer cases on a priority basis while ensuring compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.
Officials said the exercise was designed to make the process easier for consumers by eliminating the need to rely on agents or intermediaries. Instead, applicants are now being contacted directly by the Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC), which has begun sending updates through SMS, WhatsApp and other digital platforms. Consumers can also monitor the progress of their applications through the official online verification portal.
The Power Division urged applicants not to pay anyone for assistance in processing or expediting their applications, stressing that no charges are required at any stage of the verification process. It said the direct communication system had been introduced to protect consumers from fraud and prevent unauthorised individuals from exploiting applicants under the guise of offering assistance.
Authorities said every remaining application is being scrutinised against official records, relevant rules, guidelines and clarifications issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The aim is to ensure that eligible consumers receive their rightful approvals without unnecessary delays while filtering out fraudulent or misleading applications.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to renewable energy, the Power Division said solar power remains a key component of Pakistan’s long-term energy strategy. It maintained that recent policy measures are intended to strengthen the sector through greater transparency and consumer protection rather than create obstacles for solar adoption.
Minister Leghari said addressing legitimate public grievances remained the government’s foremost priority and instructed the relevant institutions to complete scrutiny of the outstanding applications as quickly as possible while keeping consumers informed about the status of their cases through a clear and transparent process.
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