Karachi, October 19, 2023 – The President of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME), Zulfikar Thaver, recently presided over a significant meeting involving key stakeholders to tackle the challenges facing Pakistan’s solar energy industry.
The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and discussion on a comprehensive study focused on the solar energy sector, which is poised to play a crucial role in sustainable energy development and economic growth.
The meeting was attended by Muhammad Uzair, Manager Sindh, SMEDA; Hussain Ali, Hassan Ibrahim, and Shehzaad Patel, representatives from the solar sector community; and Bakhtawar Zawar, Hamza Sheikh, and Seerat Al Zahra from the Institute of Business Management (IBM).
Various critical topics were discussed during the meeting, including the revision of the Power policy, the streamlining of solar equipment imports, addressing disparities in cash margins, and the termination of deferred payment options. The attendees collectively urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to take proactive measures to resolve the issue of containers containing solar panels, where bonafide importers are incurring demurrage and detention charges.
Zulfikar Thaver emphasized that SME importers are willing to cooperate with commercial banks and questioned the delays caused by banks, citing a couple of past violations as the reason behind these issues. He expressed concerns about the damages being incurred by a substantial quantity of goods, which he deemed unwise from a policy perspective.
The discussions also delved into the examination of solar tiers and explored the implications of the Pakistan Single Window platform, which is expected to streamline import and export processes.
Participants from the Institute of Business Management (IBM) raised questions about the requirements for Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) licenses by banks and explored the potential for local solar panel production. The primary focus of the meeting was to find practical solutions to the critical issues impacting the solar energy sector.
Zulfikar Thaver expressed his appreciation for the active engagement of the participants and highlighted the importance of these discussions in advancing the solar industry in Pakistan.
In addition to these discussions, UNISAME Council members urged the Karachi Electric to establish an SME facilitation desk to address the concerns and issues faced by entrepreneurs in the sector. This collective effort signifies a vital step toward overcoming the challenges and promoting sustainable growth in Pakistan’s solar energy industry.
