Pakistan’s Solar Revolution: Turning Chinese Technology into Local Industrial Growth. 巴基斯坦太阳能革命：将中国技术转化为本土产业增长动力。

(下边有中文翻译，请继续看到底。 谢谢。）

Pakistan’s rapid adoption of solar energy is creating an opportunity that extends far beyond cheaper electricity. It could help the country develop a new industrial sector, create skilled employment, reduce dependence on imported finished products, and strengthen cooperation with China. The emerging partnership between Pakistani businesses and Chinese battery manufacturers offers a practical way to turn the country’s solar boom into sustainable economic growth.

For years, Pakistan has faced high electricity tariffs, pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and persistent challenges in providing affordable, reliable energy. Solar power is increasingly becoming an attractive alternative for households, farmers, commercial establishments and industries. As solar installations expand, however, the need for reliable energy storage is growing. Lithium-ion batteries enable consumers to store electricity generated during daylight hours and use it when sunlight is unavailable or grid supply is interrupted.

This shift is opening a promising new market.

According to the figures provided in the source report, Pakistan imported a record 16.86 gigawatts of Chinese solar panels in 2025, more than twice the volume recorded in 2023. Pakistan was the second-largest importer of Chinese solar panels that year. Meanwhile, United Nations trade data showed that Pakistani imports of lithium-ion batteries reached $171 million in 2025, compared with $60 million in 2024, with China accounting for $167 million.

These figures demonstrate the scale of demand. More importantly, they raise a strategic question: can Pakistan move beyond importing finished products and capture a greater share of the value created by the clean-energy transition?

From imports to industrial partnerships

Recent initiatives suggest that local businesses are beginning to explore this opportunity. Karachi-based ME Solar Energy is planning a battery assembly plant with technical support from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), involving a reported investment of $15 million. The proposed facility is expected to assemble 10,000 five-kilowatt batteries per month once operational.

Other Pakistani companies, including Treet Battery and Kohinoor Energy, are also pursuing battery assembly partnerships with Chinese firms. Such initiatives could help establish a domestic ecosystem for battery integration, testing, installation and after-sales services.

China’s experience in solar power, battery technology and large-scale manufacturing offers Pakistan valuable opportunities for technical cooperation. Chinese companies can contribute equipment, engineering expertise, quality-control systems and workforce training, while Pakistani partners provide local market knowledge, distribution networks and an understanding of domestic energy requirements.

The objective should not be limited to assembling imported components. Over time, Pakistan should develop the capacity to design energy-storage systems, integrate batteries with solar installations, manufacture selected components and provide dependable maintenance and warranty services.

Affordable energy and economic benefits

Falling battery prices could make solar power and storage more accessible to ordinary Pakistanis. The source report indicates that the average local price of a basic five-kilowatt battery has fallen by around half since 2024, to approximately $720. Local assembly could potentially reduce the price further, depending on production costs, taxes, exchange rates and the proportion of imported components.

Affordable storage would benefit households and small businesses seeking protection against power interruptions. Farmers could use solar-powered systems for irrigation, while manufacturers and commercial enterprises could improve energy management and reduce operating costs. Wider adoption could also reduce pressure on the electricity grid during certain periods.

For Pakistan, the economic benefits could extend to employment, technical education and entrepreneurship. Battery assembly plants require technicians, electrical engineers, quality-control specialists, logistics personnel and service professionals. Universities, technical institutes and industry should work together to prepare young people for these emerging opportunities.

Realism, quality and long-term planning

Nevertheless, expectations must remain realistic. Assembling batteries is considerably less demanding than manufacturing battery cells, which requires substantial capital, specialised technology, reliable supply chains and economies of scale. Pakistan should not rush into expensive cell-manufacturing projects before establishing sufficient demand, technical competence and competitive production costs.

A phased strategy would be more practical. The priority should be efficient assembly and system integration, followed by the gradual development of local components, engineering capabilities, research and development, and eventually more advanced manufacturing where commercially viable.

Quality and safety must remain central. Poorly designed or improperly installed batteries can create serious fire and reliability risks. Pakistan therefore needs clear technical standards, product certification, trained installers, transparent warranties and effective recycling arrangements. Battery disposal and the recovery of valuable materials should be addressed from the beginning rather than treated as future problems.

Government policy also matters. Predictable taxation, streamlined approvals, access to industrial finance and incentives tied to genuine local value addition could encourage responsible investment. Collaboration with Chinese partners should include measurable targets for training, technology transfer, local employment and domestic supplier development.

A practical opportunity for Pakistan–China cooperation

Pakistan’s solar transition illustrates how international cooperation can support national development. China has developed substantial capabilities across renewable energy and battery supply chains, while Pakistan offers a growing market and an urgent need for affordable, dependable power.

The two countries can build on this complementarity to develop a competitive energy-storage industry serving Pakistani consumers and, eventually, regional markets. Success will depend on sound commercial decisions, consistent policies, high-quality products and a willingness to invest in people and technology.

Pakistan does not need to manufacture every battery cell immediately to benefit from the global clean-energy transition. It needs to begin by capturing the industrial opportunities within reach, then steadily expand its capabilities.

The real measure of success will not be how many batteries Pakistan imports or assembles, but how much local expertise, employment, industrial capacity and economic value the country creates in the process.

巴基斯坦太阳能革命：将中国技术转化为本土产业增长动力

巴基斯坦太阳能的快速普及，正在创造一个远超降低电价本身的发展机遇。这一趋势有望帮助巴基斯坦培育新的工业部门，创造技术型就业岗位，减少对进口成品的依赖，并深化与中国的合作。巴基斯坦企业与中国电池制造商之间日益增多的合作，为将太阳能热潮转化为可持续经济增长提供了一条切实可行的路径。

多年来，巴基斯坦一直面临电价高企、外汇储备承压以及难以持续提供价格合理、供应可靠的能源等挑战。对于家庭、农民、商业机构和工业企业而言，太阳能正日益成为一种具有吸引力的替代能源。然而，随着太阳能装机规模不断扩大，市场对可靠储能设备的需求也在持续增长。锂离子电池能够储存白天产生的电力，并在没有阳光或电网供电中断时释放电能。

这一转变正在开辟一个充满潜力的新市场。

根据相关报道提供的数据，2025年，巴基斯坦从中国进口的太阳能板达到创纪录的16.86吉瓦，超过2023年进口量的两倍。同年，巴基斯坦成为中国太阳能板的第二大进口国。与此同时，联合国贸易数据显示，巴基斯坦2025年锂离子电池进口额达到1.71亿美元，高于2024年的6000万美元，其中来自中国的进口额为1.67亿美元。

这些数字反映出市场需求的规模。更重要的是，它们提出了一个具有战略意义的问题：巴基斯坦能否超越进口成品的模式，在清洁能源转型过程中创造的价值中占据更大份额？

从进口转向产业合作

近期的一系列举措表明，巴基斯坦本土企业正开始探索这一机遇。总部位于卡拉奇的ME Solar Energy计划在中国宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司（CATL）的技术支持下建设电池组装厂。据报道，该项目投资额为1500万美元。工厂投产后，预计每月可组装1万台5千瓦电池。

包括Treet Battery和Kohinoor Energy在内的其他巴基斯坦企业，也正在与中国公司探讨电池组装合作。这些项目有望推动巴基斯坦逐步建立涵盖电池集成、检测、安装及售后服务的本土产业体系。

中国在太阳能、电池技术和规模化制造领域积累了丰富经验，为巴基斯坦提供了宝贵的技术合作机遇。中国企业可以提供设备、工程技术、质量控制体系和员工培训，巴基斯坦合作伙伴则能够发挥本地市场知识、分销网络以及对国内能源需求的了解等优势。

合作目标不应局限于组装进口零部件。随着产业发展，巴基斯坦应逐步培养储能系统设计能力，将电池与太阳能发电系统进行集成，生产部分关键零部件，并提供可靠的维护和质保服务。

让能源更实惠，释放经济效益

电池价格持续下降，有望让普通巴基斯坦民众更容易使用太阳能和储能设备。相关报道指出，自2024年以来，当地一款基础型5千瓦电池的平均价格已下降约一半，目前约为720美元。如果实现本地组装，价格还有可能进一步下降，但具体幅度取决于生产成本、税收、汇率以及进口零部件所占比例等因素。

价格合理的储能设备能够帮助家庭和小企业应对停电问题。农民可以利用太阳能系统进行灌溉，制造业和商业企业则可以改善能源管理、降低运营成本。太阳能和储能技术的广泛应用，也有助于在特定时段缓解电网压力。

对巴基斯坦而言，这一产业的经济效益还将体现在就业、职业教育和创业发展方面。电池组装厂需要技术人员、电气工程师、质量控制专家、物流人员和售后服务专业人员。大学、职业技术院校和企业应加强合作，为年轻人提供必要的知识与技能，使他们能够把握这些新兴产业带来的机遇。

立足现实，重视质量与长期规划

与此同时，产业发展必须保持务实。电池组装的技术和资金门槛远低于电芯制造。电芯生产需要大量资本投入、专业技术、稳定的供应链以及规模经济。在市场需求、技术能力和生产成本竞争力尚未成熟之前，巴基斯坦不宜仓促推进高成本的电芯制造项目。

分阶段发展将更加切实可行。第一步应着重提高组装效率和系统集成能力，随后逐步发展本地零部件生产、工程技术、研发能力，并在具备商业可行性的条件下向更先进的制造环节延伸。

质量与安全必须始终放在首位。设计不当或安装不规范的电池可能带来严重的火灾风险和可靠性问题。因此，巴基斯坦需要建立明确的技术标准、产品认证制度，培养合格的安装人员，完善透明的质保机制，并建立有效的电池回收体系。电池废弃物处理和有价值材料的回收利用，应从产业发展之初就纳入规划，而不应留待未来解决。

政府政策同样至关重要。稳定、可预期的税收政策，简化审批程序，提供产业融资渠道，以及针对实际本地增值的激励措施，都有助于吸引负责任的投资。与中国伙伴开展合作时，还应设定可衡量的目标，涵盖人才培训、技术转移、本地就业和国内供应商培育等方面。

巴中合作的现实机遇

巴基斯坦的太阳能转型说明，国际合作能够为国家发展提供有力支持。中国在可再生能源和电池产业链领域拥有显著的技术与制造优势，而巴基斯坦既拥有不断扩大的市场，也迫切需要价格合理、供应可靠的电力。

两国可以发挥各自优势，合作建设具有竞争力的储能产业，为巴基斯坦消费者提供服务，并逐步开拓区域市场。实现这一目标，需要稳健的商业决策、稳定的政策环境、高质量的产品，以及对人才培养和技术创新的持续投入。

巴基斯坦不必立即实现所有电芯的自主制造，才能从全球清洁能源转型中受益。更务实的做法是，首先把握现阶段能够实现的产业机遇，再循序渐进地提升本土能力。 衡量这一转型是否成功，关键不在于巴基斯坦进口或组装了多少电池，而在于这一过程为国家创造了多少本土专业技术、就业岗位、产业能力和经济价值。

(注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)

Reference Link:- https://macaulawnews.com/newsinfo/3224923.html

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…

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