Solar Energy Instead of Power Outages in Pakistan: How the Population is Driving the Countries Energy Transition

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

In a world increasingly impacted by climate change and rising energy costs, Pakistan emerges as a surprising example of an impressive energy transition. The use of solar energy is booming—not driven by large corporations, but by the people themselves. Motivated by rising electricity prices and the need for a stable energy supply, more and more households and small businesses are turning to solar power. Through initiative and ingenuity, Pakistanis are creating their own energy solutions.
Electricity prices in Pakistan have skyrocketed in recent years, placing an almost unbearable burden on many families. Since 2021, rates have increased by more than 155%. Simultaneously, the power supply remains unreliable. Frequent power outages, known as “load shedding,” are implemented to ease the grid’s burden and have become a daily reality for many. Especially during the scorching summer months, when temperatures soar above 40°C and fans and air conditioning are essential, this situation can become life-threatening for some.
Rising Electricity Prices Force Pakistanis to Act
The combination of rising prices and an unstable supply has triggered a solar energy boom among Pakistanis. Increasingly, people are installing solar panels on their rooftops to reduce their dependence on the national grid. In urban areas like Karachi and Lahore, solar panels are now a common sight. The hope for stable and long-term affordable energy drives this growing trend.
Pakistanis are taking responsibility for solar energy generation. Photo: Jamshaid Anwar / Pexels
Solar Energy Becomes Affordable in Pakistan
What fuels the solar boom is the decreasing cost of solar technology. Particularly, China’s overproduction of solar panels has led to significantly reduced costs. For many Pakistani families who previously had no choice but to endure high electricity bills, investing in solar installations has become feasible.
A basic system, consisting of solar panels and a battery, is often sufficient to supply a household with essential power. Lights, fans, and small appliances can operate independently of the public grid. The rapid spread of this technology has also created new economic opportunities: local businesses specializing in the installation and maintenance of solar systems are flourishing. In rural areas, the market for solar technology is generating numerous new jobs.
Solar Power generated energy has drastically increased in recent years in Pakistan. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Solar Energy for Agriculture in Pakistan
In Pakistan’s rural areas, solar energy has proven crucial for agriculture. Solar panels power water pumps needed for irrigating fields. In a country frequently plagued by droughts, this means not only higher yields but also greater security for farmers. Without solar power, many would still rely on expensive and environmentally harmful diesel generators for irrigation.
The long-term benefits are clear: In addition to reducing energy costs, the environmental footprint improves. Especially in an era when the climate crisis makes weather patterns increasingly unpredictable, solar energy offers a sustainable alternative.
The Downsides of Pakistan’s Solar Energy Boom
Despite all the progress, there are significant challenges. The rapid adoption of private solar installations is creating problems for the national power grid. It was never designed to handle decentralized energy production. As many households now generate their own electricity, demand for grid power is decreasing, pushing state-run utilities into financial distress. Simultaneously, the outdated grid cannot absorb surplus electricity produced by solar systems.
Another issue is the unregulated market. With the solar technology boom, many vendors have entered the market, not all offering high-quality products. Cheap solar panels and batteries often lose efficiency quickly, posing financial risks to users. Without clear standards or regulations, consumers are often stuck with substandard systems, which could harm trust in the technology over time.
What Is the Pakistani Government Doing for Solar Energy?
The Pakistani government has acknowledged that solar energy is a key to the country’s future. Initial initiatives aim to promote the expansion of renewable energy. The Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Punjab, one of the largest in the world, exemplifies government support for large-scale projects. The government has also set a goal: By 2030, 30% of Pakistan’s energy should come from renewable sources.
However, these measures are insufficient to address current challenges. Critical investments in modernizing the power grid remain absent. Subsidies or low-interest loans to help low-income households access solar technology exist only sporadically. The government urgently needs to take action to establish the infrastructure necessary to sustain the solar boom.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Justus Hartmann as the original source/author and set a link to this article on TheBetter.news. https://thebetter.news/solar-energy-pakistan/

The rights to the content remain with the original publisher. Läs mer…

Investigative platform uncovers: Orbán finances anti-immigration advertising in 7 EU countries

Publicerad denFörfattareAnna Drujan

The Hungarian non-profit organization “Direkt36” has proven the importance of investigative journalism: it has uncovered that Viktor Orbán has financed xenophobic online advertising – in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Belgium. Was Orbán trying to influence elections in other EU countries? Evaluations by the “Google Advertising Transparency Center” also point to this.
In autumn 2023, the cabinet office of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán apparently placed video advertisements with inflammatory anti-immigration statements on YouTube. The explosive thing about this is that the ads were not only shown in Hungary, but also in seven other EU countries. The xenophobic videos were distributed in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium.
This was reported by the Hungarian investigative platform “Direkt36“. Together with VSquare.org, they found out that these ads were viewed between 8 and 9.7 million times by users. This allowed them to draw public attention to Orbán’s alleged election interference.
Did Orbán’s ads influence elections in other EU countries?
At the time the ads were placed, there were election campaigns in four of the seven countries. Slovakia and Poland elected a new parliament in the fall, while Germany and Italy elected new representatives on the municipal level. The advertising placements in Slovakia were particularly intensive. They were displayed between 1.6 and 1.8 million times on screens there. Theoretically, the campaign could have reached around a third of the entire population. The Slovakian government has already reacted to the possible influence:

“As a government and personally as Minister of Defense, I have been informed about the interference of the Hungarian government in the Slovakian electoral system and processes. This also includes the deliberate highlighting of issues such as migration, which was a top priority,” said Jaroslav Naď, Slovakian Minister of Defense from 2020 to May 2023.

The importance of investigative journalism during elections
The content of the promotional videos incites fear of refugees and is reminiscent of videos by the Alt-Right. They were produced in English and can therefore be understood by most of the European population. The suspicion arises that anti-immigration sentiment is being promoted in seven EU countries.
It remains to be seen how this should be dealt with. If Hungary really wanted to influence elections, then extreme caution is required in the EU elections. The work of investigative platforms such as Direkt36 and VSquare is therefore essential for the election campaign period in the upcoming months. Because at a time when we can expect a swing to the right in the European Parliament, only the early exposure of such scandals can ensure fair elections.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Lena Krainz as the original source/author and set a link to this article on Scoop.me. https://thebetter.news/orban-influences-elections-eu/

The rights to the content remain with the original publisher. Läs mer…

EU adopts the World’s first Regulation on Cryptocurrencies

Publicerad denFörfattareScoop Editorial

The EU-Parliament passed a law to regulate cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin more strongly. The new regulation will protect consumers from losses, and it will make money laundering and terrorist financing more difficult. In addition, providers are to be held liable in the event of massive losses. With the new law, Europe wants to end the “wild west of the blockchain world”.
On 20 April, the EU-Parliament passed the so-called “Regulation on Markets in Crypto Assets” (MiCA) with a large majority. Until now, it was possible to trade cryptocurrencies largely anonymously. Bitcoin & Co. are therefore popular with money launderers and fraudsters. This is now to come to an end.
Crypto exchanges will be subject to national supervisory authorities
Insider trading and abuse of power are to be made more difficult by the regulation. Service providers and suppliers of crypto-assets must submit to money laundering regulations. In addition, platforms and crypto exchanges will be subject to national supervisory authorities. Those platforms on which cryptocurrencies can be traded must also provide information about the sender and recipient of the transactions.
This is the first law to comprehensively regulate cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Etherum, etc. Evelyn Regner, Vice-President of the EU Parliament, comments on the decision:
“With this law, we are not only creating a model for the regulation of crypto markets, but above all strengthening the protection of consumers and investors and increasing legal certainty for providers.
EU Regulation on Cryptocurrencies makes money laundering and terrorist financing more difficult
At the same time, the regulation ensures that trading with Bitcoin & Co. can be better tracked. Suspicious transactions that are related to money laundering or terrorism, for example, can thus be identified more quickly.
“This is long overdue, because under the guise of innovation, cryptocurrencies are often a convenient way to cover up criminal money flows. A whole 22 billion euros were laundered through crypto assets in 2022. This must now be put to an end,” Regner said.
The regulation is to come into force in stages from 23 June. From July 2024, crypto-assets tied to currencies – so-called stablecoins – will then have to prove larger financial reserves in order to be approved. The complete regulation will then come into force in January 2025 at the latest. The “Wild West of the blockchain world” will thus come to an end, according to European Parliament member Stefan Berger.
Bitcoin mining consumes as much energy as the whole of Austria every year
However, Regner points out that the EU’s regulation on cryptocurrencies is only a first step: “However, not all the work is done with the regulation adopted today, because crypto markets continue to develop rapidly. Therefore, the EU Commission should continue to closely monitor developments in the crypto asset markets and propose further regulation if needed.”
Especially in the area of sustainability, it is imperative to tighten up: “Bitcoin mining alone consumes as much energy annually as the whole of Austria. Therefore, in the future, we will also need minimum standards for sustainability, which have not made it into the regulation for the time being due to considerable resistance from the centre-right.” Läs mer…