Solar push helps Pakistan temper Gulf energy shock

Pakistan's solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite lingering concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices. A study published last month assessed that the uptake of solar around 2018 helped the country avoid more than $12 billion in oil and gas imports up to February this year.

At projected market prices, it could save a further $6.3 billion by the end of 2026, said Renewables First and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The International Energy Agency has estimated that more than 40 million of Pakistan's more than 240 million people do not have access to electricity.