ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s electricity sector is facing a significant data gap in rooftop solar adoption, with actual installed capacity estimated to be nearly twice the officially documented figures, according to a new report.

A joint study by HeraldX and Renewables First, titled “The Uncounted Gigawatts: Distributed Solar Mapping and Grid Impact Analysis in Pakistan”, uses artificial intelligence and power system modelling to evaluate the scale and operational impact of distributed solar generation.

The report estimates that national rooftop and distributed solar capacity stands at around 38 gigawatts, significantly higher than what is reflected in official datasets.

In Lahore, the AI model identified 177MW of rooftop solar capacity compared to an official estimate of 95MW, pointing to substantial gaps in reporting and registration, particularly for systems outside or partially outside net-metering frameworks.

The study notes that this unrecorded capacity is already influencing grid behaviour, despite remaining largely invisible to planners and distribution companies.

Using PSS/E simulation software, researchers compared grid performance under recorded and actual solar penetration levels, finding increased reverse power flows and a rise in transformer loading from 34 per cent to 76 per cent during daytime conditions.

Voltage levels were also found to exceed Grid Code 2023 compliance thresholds under both scenarios, indicating mounting stress on distribution infrastructure.

The report further states that while a simulated 10MW battery energy storage system helped improve voltage stability and reduce reverse flows, it also led to power factor deterioration in lower solar penetration conditions, suggesting storage alone cannot address the challenge.

According to the researchers, the AI model was trained on Pakistan-specific rooftop imagery to improve accuracy, unlike generic international datasets.

The report calls for urgent adoption of updated monitoring systems and planning tools, warning that the widening gap between recorded and actual solar capacity poses risks for distribution companies and grid operators.

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has announced public holidays on June 25 and 26, 2026, on account of 9th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram (Ashura), during which all government offices across the country will remain closed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the two-day holiday, following which the Cabinet Division issued a formal notification confirming the closure of public offices operating under both five-day and six-day work schedules.

The holidays will fall on Thursday and Friday, marking the observance of Ashura nationwide.

According to the notification, the decision has been taken in line with annual observances of Muharram, during which religious gatherings, processions and majalis are held across the country.

Authorities are finalising administrative and security arrangements to ensure law and order during the period, particularly in view of large processions and congregations in major cities and towns.

Ashura, observed on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, holds significant religious importance for Muslims and is commemorated every year in Pakistan with mourning processions and religious gatherings.

The notification confirms that the public holidays correspond to 9th and 10th Muharram 1448 Hijri.

ISLAMABAD – A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt in Islamabad and several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Monday, prompting residents to leave their homes and offices in panic.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region and occurred at a depth of 215 kilometres.

Tremors were reported in Islamabad, Peshawar, Buner, Bajaur, Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Khushab, Battagram, Mansehra, Swat, and Abbottabad, among other areas.

Residents in several cities rushed outdoors and recited prayers as the tremors were felt.

Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.

The latest earthquake comes days after similar tremors were recorded in various parts of the country, reflecting the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity due to its proximity to major tectonic fault lines.

Pakistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in its northern and western regions, which lie along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.