Why Solar is Cheap in India and Expensive in Pakistan?

 Why is solar energy cheap in India and expensive in Pakistan? The situation is completely different in Pakistan, where a 3 kW solar system is available at a price between five and six lakh, while a 5 kilowatt system costs between seven and nine lakh. BBC Urdu correspondent Rohan Ahmed spoke to engineer Aftab Jan, owner of Revtech Electric and Solar Service, a solar panel manufacturing company in Islamabad. He said the biggest difference in solar system prices between India and Pakistan is the difference in the value of the two countries' currencies.

He said that in India you can install a three kilowatt solar system for one and a half lakh rupees, but in Pakistan it is absolutely impossible. He further said that the cheapest inverter available to us for such a system costs Rs 75,000 and the battery costs around Rs 20-25,000. It will be very expensive compared to India.” The materials used in the solar system are imported from abroad and this is also influenced by US dollar prices, he said. Engineer Aftab added: “The biggest problem is that there is no proper system to monitor these importers to regulate prices and track their profit.”