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ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to exempt solar equipment from all taxes aimed at achieving the target of 10,000 MWp from solar plants and promote local industry, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

In this regard, Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) has drafted “Solar Panel and Allied Equipment Manufacturing Policy 2023” to be presented to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet.

According to the draft policy, the prevailing severe energy crisis, global hike in fossil fuel prices and resulting ballooning of energy import bill have triggered pressure on the county’s balance of payment (BoP). Resultantly, government has focused on increasing the share of indigenous energy resources from existing 40% to 90.2% by 2031 as part of Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), which will be achieved primarily through Renewable Energy (RE) sources. In this context the prime minister has approved to generate 10,000 MW of solar energy to overcome energy crises. The country has already witnessed a surge in the use of solar energy during the last few years.

PM Shehbaz terms transition to solar energy vital for strengthening economy

The expected demand is expected to create huge potential market of solar modules and allied equipment as investors (local as well as foreign) are showing interest in investing in installing solar PV Panels and ancillary equipment manufacturing facilities in Pakistan. To make local manufacturing feasible, policy intervention from the government is needed.

Existing tax and tariff structure on import of solar equipment reflects that 17% sales tax is levied on imports of parts/components of solar modules/panels whereas imports of complete modules/panels are at zero percent duties and taxes. However, India and Turkey are applying up to 40 percent tariff differentials in order to promote their local industry.

To leverage policy formulation, the Prime Minister constituted a committee on “indigenous production of solar panel and allied equipment” on December 16, 2022. In pursuance of PM Office notification of the committee, a consultative meeting under the chairmanship of the federal minister for Industries and Production was held on December 22, 2022 to deliberate upon the promotion and implementation of solar panel and allied equipment manufacturing policy 2023. Moreover, stakeholders’ consultation was held on different occasions.

The policy is proposed with following interventions to promote solar panels and allied equipment manufacturing in Pakistan: (i) a consistent 10-year policy framework to enable long term investment by domestic & global companies; (ii) exemption from duties and taxes on import of inputs (CKD & raw materials, sub-components, components, sub-assemblies) used in manufacturing of solar panels, parts and allied equipment. Currently, complete solar power systems including PV modules, batteries, inverters, wires/cables, etc are exempted from customs duty under fifth schedule of Customs, on import; (iii) exemption from all duties and taxes on import of plant, machinery and equipment for new and BMRE plants used for manufacturing of solar panels, parts and allied equipment. Currently, only solar cell manufacturing equipment is exempted from customs duty under fifth schedule of Customs, on its import. For manufacturers, solar cells and parts of PV Modules are also exempted from customs duty under fifth schedule of Customs, whereas local manufacturers of inverters, batteries and allied

equipment / parts are subject to payment of duties on the import of their inputs; (iv) equal treatment in Sales Tax for local manufacturers and importers. Currently, solar cells and PV modules are exempted from sales tax under sixth schedule of Sales Tax Act,1990 on import and supply whereas local manufacturers are subject to payment of sales tax on import of inputs of solar panels, inverters, batteries and allied equipment/ parts);(v) ten year Tax Holiday for existing, setting-up new plants and BMRE of Solar Panel and allied equipment manufacturing concerns; (vi) bank financing/ loans at low interest rates for setting up local manufacturing and installation;(vii) supporting exports through adequate incentives in the shape of R&D support, DLTL, etc;(viii) preference (at least 30% share) to the locally made solar panels and allied equipment in government procurement as per SRO 827(1)/2001;(ix) incentivising establishment of international standard and accredited laboratories, (preferably in North and South), for certifying the quality/standards of Panels and Allied equipment according to IEC standards /TUV accredited laboratories (tentative cost $ 10-15 million approx.) or upgrading a couple of existing labs (tentative cost $ 5-8 million approx). Till the time local industry may be supported through subsidizing the testing/certification of their products frominternational laboratories in other countries; and (x) constitution of Implementation and Review Committee to guide the policy.

The sources said proposed policy is designed to promote local industry. The implementation of this policy is expected to help the government to provide its citizen with clean and cheap energy, address climate change issues, reduce the CO2 emissions, save foreign exchange and support export enhancement through local and foreign investments. The proposed initiative would also galvanize commercial activities in already existing Industrial sectors like aluminum, frame, tempered glass, cable etc.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Comments

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Haroon Jan 27, 2023 08:24am
Govt must rationalize actions with and control NEPRA too. NEPRA seems to be serving the IPP lobby instead of protecting interests of Pakistanis. Case in point being the net metering issue where any reduction in rates will produce higher long term costs than any benefits.
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Muhammed Jan 27, 2023 12:49pm
Solar is not the ultimate solution. It provides power only in day time with varying degrees of protection. We need continuous & constant supply which can be achieved by Investment in Hydel, Wind, & bio (72 sugar mills).
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Amico Jan 27, 2023 01:57pm
Dears, simply joke regarding green energy .
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Shah Kamal Jan 27, 2023 02:21pm
Present govt have only agenda to make Pakistan destablise. They not have such sence.
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Mushtaque Ahmed Jan 27, 2023 10:37pm
Going for IPPs 2.0 lop-sided contracts to favour the solar energy investors and make the consumers pay. The cost of totally unaffordable fossil-based IPPs is being borne by the common man. The initial solar energy plant Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park have failed to deliver and we trying to sell the plant.
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Zahid Hussain Jan 28, 2023 06:24am
Yes
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KU Jan 28, 2023 07:41pm
It's a good initiative, and the policy needs to be consistent. The future of our industry and agriculture is now dependent on solar energy and equipment, which is the only way to slow down climate change. Particularly, our agriculture is dying a slow death because of the high cost of diesel and electricity bills, hopefully, this initiative will be implemented soon.
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Aamir Latif Jan 29, 2023 10:50pm
GoP under past or current govt should encourage solar system as alternate energy at domestic level with grid connectivity.. GoP should subsidize or atkeast give tax exemption as will be e great source to overcome generation issues which are costly... Just see UK, they are generating 45% of their power generation through alternate energy in last 10-years. Pakistan being solar country should encourage instead of toeing FBR babus lines to TAX....
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KHALID AHMED KHAN Aug 29, 2023 02:38pm
Will the person get any sort of tax credit in his annual tax liability while installing solar system ?
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KHALID AHMED KHAN Aug 29, 2023 02:39pm
Just a query, if any person install solar panels, does he get any tax credit while filling annual tax return ?
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