Parliamentarians and energy experts have called on the government to avoid long-term energy contracts that can lock Pakistan into costly take-or-pay obligations and contribute to circular debt, urging a more flexible approach to LNG and other fuel imports as solar rapidly reshapes the country's energy landscape. In just a few years, and largely without public subsidies, Pakistan has deployed an estimated 50 GW of solar capacity across utility-scale, net-metered, agricultural, off-grid, and behind-the-meter systems. The capacity is estimated to generate roughly 54.75 TWh annually, equivalent, on a gross-energy basis, to nearly 1,279 mmcfd of gas-fired generation. The scale of this deployment represents a structural transformation that has outpaced many of the assumptions underpinning Pakistan's long-term gas and LNG commitments.

The discussion took place at a webinar titled 'The Sun and the Pipeline: Energy Contracts in an Era of Solar Disruption in Pakistan'. The dialogue examined Pakistan's changing RLNG requirements, the impact of geopolitical risks and global market volatility, and policy options to protect consumers while maintaining energy security. Dr. Nafisa Shah, convener of the Parliamentary Forum on Energy and Economy and a member of the National Assembly, said Pakistan must rethink its energy mix and regulatory frameworks in light of the rapid deployment of solar energy. "Pakistan has deployed an estimated 50 GW of solar capacity across its rooftops and other segments. Our energy policies must reflect this new reality and ensure that people finally receive the affordable energy they have missed for so long because of long-term take-or-pay contracts that have trapped us in prohibitively expensive electricity," she said.

Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, parliamentary secretary for information and broadcasting and secretary of the Parliamentary Forum on Energy and Economy, said the debate should move beyond viewing solar and gas as competing alternatives. "We should not ask whether Pakistan chooses the sun or the pipeline. We should ask how the sun, the pipeline, the grid, and emerging technologies can work together to provide Pakistan with affordable, reliable, and secure energy," he said. Muhammad Arif, former member gas at OGRA and a petroleum law, policy and regulatory adviser, emphasised the need to integrate energy governance and develop mechanisms to monetise surplus solar generation, particularly during periods of high solar output.

Asim Riaz, energy adviser at the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association, said Pakistan's LNG challenge was no longer solely about securing supply. "Pakistan's LNG challenge is about demand, flexibility, affordability, and market design. The sun has not eliminated the need for LNG. It has changed when RLNG is needed, how much is needed, and what kind of LNG portfolio Pakistan can afford," he said. Syed Faizan Shah, energy expert and adviser to the power minister, said Pakistan's priority should not simply be to add more generation capacity. "Our focus is on building an energy system that is more resilient to external price shocks and more efficient across generation, transmission, and distribution," he said.