Renewables
Pakistan seeks consultant for 100 MW solar project
The Private Power and Infrastructure Board is inviting international bids for consultancy services to support a 100 MW distributed solar initiative in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Key points
- The Private Power and Infrastructure Board is procuring a consultant for a 100 MW distributed solar project in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- The appointed firm will oversee non-solar infrastructure verification, including transmission lines, substations, and control systems.
- Applications for the electronic tender close on November 30, with eligibility extended to international consulting firms.
What happened
According to pv magazine, Pakistan's Private Power and Infrastructure Board has initiated a search for an independent consultant to support the deployment of 100 MW of distributed solar power generation. The installations are planned for the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, with the regional government's Water and Power Department acting as the executing agency.
The scope of the consultancy excludes the solar generation equipment itself. Instead, the selected firm will focus on verifying non-solar infrastructure. This includes transmission and distribution networks, fiber optic links, substations, approach roads, and energy management systems. The oversight will cover compliance across design, procurement, installation, and testing phases up to commercial operations.
International consulting firms are eligible to submit expressions of interest. The application window closes on November 30, requiring electronic submissions.
Market context
Distributed solar installations have expanded rapidly across Pakistan. Data cited by pv magazine from the Pakistan Solar Association indicates that distributed solar systems accounted for 27 percent of the country's electricity supply in 2025.
Research published in October highlights a distinct structural divide in adoption patterns. Registered net-metering systems are largely concentrated among higher-income consumers in well-serviced utility zones. Conversely, unregistered off-grid and behind-the-meter setups prevail in regions with unreliable grid access, driving an unrecorded expansion of decentralized capacity.
Why it matters
For energy planners and investors across emerging markets, Pakistan's trajectory offers insights into managing rapid decentralized generation growth. World Bank figures show Pakistan achieved an electricity access rate of 95.7 percent by 2024, with a per capita consumption of 493.5 kWh, while its 2021 renewable electricity share stood at 28.3 percent.
As developing nations increasingly integrate distributed renewables to offset grid unreliability, independent verification of balance-of-system infrastructure becomes critical for asset longevity. Ensuring that transmission lines, substations, and control architectures meet technical standards helps mitigate operational risks in remote or mountainous terrains such as Gilgit-Baltistan.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
28.3% of electricity in Pakistan was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
