KARACHI – In a decisive move to tighten tax compliance within Pakistan’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has deployed its officers to monitor the sales activities of leading solar energy companies.
(more…)Tag: solar panels
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Government revises solar panel tax to 10% after consultations
Islamabad, June 18, 2025 – In a significant move aimed at balancing fiscal needs with clean energy goals, the government has revised the proposed General Sales Tax (GST) on solar panels from 18% to 10%.
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PCMA Rejects Cuts in Net Metering Rates for Solar Electricity
Karachi, March 16, 2025 – Ahmed Chinoy H.I, S.I, Chairman of the Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA), has strongly condemned the recent announcement regarding proposed cuts in net metering rates for solar electricity in Pakistan.
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Sindh to Distribute 0.2 Million Solar Home Systems
Karachi, August 4, 2024 — Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced today that 200,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) will be provided to low-income households across the province, using data from the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
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Bestway to set up Brownfield cement plant
KARACHI: Bestway Cement Limited announced on Friday its plans to significantly expand its production and energy capabilities with the establishment of a Brownfield cement plant and a 6.4 MW off-grid solar power plant.
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Ministry extends implementation of SRO 604 related to solar panel import
ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has extended the implementation of SRO 604 up to August 31, 2019. The ministry issued the SRO on May 28, 2019 which is related to import of solar panel and related equipments.
The ministry of commerce issued SRO 947(I)/2019 to extend the date of implementation of the SRO 604(I)/2019 from June 01, 2019 to August 31, 2019.
Therefore the provisions of the SRO 604 would take effect from September 01, 2019.
Sources in Pakistan Customs said that the extension of date for implementation of the SRO would help the import to clear their stuck up consignments on the previous terms and conditions.
Due to changes in the Import Policy Order, 2016 through SRO 604 resulted large amount of stuck up containers at the ports.
Considering the large number of stuck up containers of solar panels, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Appraisement South, allowed shifting of solar panel and related equipments consignments to CPF customs bonded warehouses or pubic bonded warehouses till the requirement of SRO 604 is not fulfilled by the importers.
The consignments of solar panels, inverters and other equipment used in solar technology were previously imported on the standards and conditions specified by the government as per last import policy order.
The stakeholders said that the ministry had issued the SRO without consultation with the industry participants and it resulted in this problem.
The ministry previously issued clarification and mentioned July 4 2019 as the date of implementation of new requirement but still large number of containers were stuck at ports as they were arrived under previous order and were not cleared prior to the said.
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Import Policy Order 2016 amended: SRO 604 issued for solar panels, equipments
ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce on Monday amended Import Policy Order, 2016 to describe conditions for import of solar energy panels and related equipments into Pakistan, according to a notification made available to PkRevenue.com.
The ministry issued SRO 604(I)/2019 to amend the import policy order. The SRO amended the Appendix-B related to procedural requirement of following items with Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) code and description of commodity:
8541.4000: Solar Photovoltaic cells whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels (Crystalline Type/ Thin Film) Solar PV Test equipment for system performance testing.
8504.4090: Inverter for use with solar PV system. Common for all PV inverters (off-gird/Hybrid/on-gird.
9032.8990: Charge Controllers for use solar PV systems Balance of system components for Photovoltaic systems.
8501.3110: Off-gird/Standalone solar photovoltaic generators consisting of panels of photocells combined with other apparatus / Solar PV Homes System / Solar Kits.
8501.3210: Off-Grid/ standalone solar photovoltaic generators consisting of panels of photocells combined with other apparatus / Solar PV Homes Systems/ Solar Kits
8503.0010: Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210
8503.0020: Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210
8503.0090: Pats suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210 – others.
8538.9090: Junction Box with covers for solar panels.
8544.6090: Insulated (including enameled or anodized electric wire, cables (including con-axial cable) and other insulated conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors for use in photovoltaic systems.
8413.7090: Solar Photovoltaic pumping system for liquids.
8419.1900: Solar Water Heaters with accessories
7321.1190: Stoves, ranges, grates, cookers (including those with subsidiary boilers for central heating), barbecues, braziers, rings, plate non-electric domestic appliances and parts thereof running on solar.
For the import of above solar system equipments the ministry has defined the conditions, included:
Importable subject to compliance with the quality and safety standards approved by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) as given in Appendix N:
i. Provided that the test report shall be issued by accredited laboratory in the country of origin or exporting country for the scope of testing/ calibration, in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
ii. Provided further that the certificate of conformance (CoC) shall be issued by accredited product certification body in the country of origin of exporting country for the type of certification in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products and services.
iii. Provided also further that the PSI report shall be issued by accredited inspection body in the country of origin or exporting country for the type of inspections, in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020, General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.
iv. Provided further that the accreditation of the above mentioned conformity assessment bodies shall be issued by the Accredited Body (AB), operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011, General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies.
The SRO also amended Appendix H related to the list of pre-shipment inspection companies. According to the amendment:
g. The pre-shipment inspection companies as approved by Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) for the inspection of solar equipment (including but not limited to solar PV system, off-girds/standalone solar PV systems, solar PV kits, solar PV panels, solar PV cells, inverters, charge controllers, balance of system components for PV systems, low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies, power converters for use in PV power systems, insulated cables for use in PV systems, solar pumping systems for liquids, solar water heaters with accessories, solar stoves/ cookers/ ranges, etc. and parts thereof.
The SRO also amended the Appendix N related to list of compulsory items to meet Pakistan Standards at import stage.
Following items have been added to the list with HS code and subject:
8541.4000:
Solar PV Module IEC: 61730-1
Solar PV Module – Crystalline Type IEC: 61730-2, IEC:61215-1
Solar PV Module – Thin Film (CdTe Based) IEC: 61215
Solar PV Module – Thin Film (amorphous silicon based), IEC: 61730-1, IEC: 61730-2
Solar PV Module – Thin Film (In, GA based) IEC: 61730-1, IEC: 61730-2
PV Test Equipment for system performance testing
Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV)
Solar PV standalone systems (including AC or DC off-grid systems)
8504.4090:
Inverter for use with solar PV system. Common for all PV inverters (off-grid/hybrid/on-gird)
Inverters for use with solar PV on-grid system only
Inverter testing equipment
Charge controllers for use with solar PV system
Balance of system components for photovoltaic systems
Low voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies
Power converters for use in photovoltaic power assemblies
Power converters for use in photovoltaic power system
8501.3110/8501.3210:
Off-grid/standalone solar PV Home Systems/ Solar Kits
8503.0010/8503.0020/8503.0090:
Electronic equipment and parts suitable for use in solar PV power installations
8538.9090: Junction Box with covers for solar panels
8544.6090: Electric cables for photovoltaic systems
8413.7090: Solar PV Pumping System Design qualification and performance measurements
8419.1900:
Solar Water Heaters, Solar heading – Domestic water heating systems
Solar water heater for dwellings based on JIS 4111
Solar Storage tank based on JIS 4113
Solar water heaters – elastomeric materials for absorbers, connecting pipes and fittings
Thermal performance of glazed liquid heating collectors including pressure drop.
Thermal solar system and components: factor made systems.
Thermal solar system and components: collectors.
Solar energy – Water heating systems
7321.1190:
Solar cooker – Box Type: requirements
Solar cooker – Box Type: components