KARACHI
Citing the tax break example of Germany, Pasban Democratic Party PDP Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday demanded that to promote solar energy culture in Pakistan the government should announce generous tax incentives to citizens.
He said in Germany anyone operating a photovoltaic system with an output of up to 30 KW on a single-family home or commercial property will no longer have to pay income tax on the electricity yield from the beginning of 2023. The German government approved the measure in its Annual Tax Act 2022. This tax exemption also applies to multi-family houses and mixed-use properties owning a PV system with an output of 15 kW.
This tax exemption also applies to multi-family houses and mixed-use properties owning a PV system with an output of 15 kW. In addition, the value-added tax (VAT) will no longer be due on the purchase, import, and installation of photovoltaic systems and energy storage systems.
The prerequisite for this is that the systems are installed on or near private homes and apartments as well as on public and other buildings that are used for activities serving the common good.
Altaf Shakoor said that the government in Pakistan is not really serious to promote solar energy in Pakistan because dozens of political leaders and their families are involved in businesses related to fossil fuel import and power generation from them.
He said powerful oil lobby of the world heavily bribe rulers of under developed countries to continue generate electricity from oil and gas and this lobby tried its best to sabotage any effort to promote renewable energy. He said Pakistan is an all-weather sunshine country and best suited for solar energy usage at micro and macro level.
He suggested to give tax incentives to domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial consumers for installation and usage of solar systems. He said the government must encourage manufacturing of solar panels and accessories within the country to bring their rates down, as imported solar panels are costlier.
He said a law should be passed that all government buildings would be run of renewable energy. He said the government should set the example of charity to begin at home.
Altaf Shakoor demanded to give free of cost solar panels to flood displaced people so that they could use them while returning back to their villages after the accumulated rainwater recedes. He also demanded aggressive pumping of water from villages and farmlands.
He said till now the government has failed to apply heavy duty pumping machines for drainage of flood water from villages and farms. He said the government should ensure complete drainage of water well before the start of coming Rabi season; otherwise, the country would face acute food shortages.
Altaf Shakoor reminded the government that solar energy is the future of Pakistan. He said all available resources should be utilized to ensure making the dream of solar Pakistan come true. He demanded to distribute solar panels free of cost under Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
He said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should ask all commercial banks to grant soft loans from purchase of solar systems. He said the role of the media would be crucial in promoting solar culture. He urged all press clubs of Pakistan to become solar to set a good example. He asked the Karachi Press Club (KPC) to lead in this regard and become the first green press club of Pakistan. =DNA
