Dera Ismail Khan's solar revolution

In May 2026, a video posted on TikTok showcased the remarkable transformation of Dera Ismail Khan, a city in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as it embraced solar energy. The clip, filmed by vlogger Muhammad Mobeen, unveiled the city's rooftops adorned with sleek black and blue solar panels, stretching across the urban area covering 40 square kilometres and home to roughly 210,000 people.

This solar revolution has not only captured the attention of the masses, garnering over a million views and 25,000 likes on TikTok, but it has also sparked a newfound economy in the conflict-affected city. Specialised solar markets have emerged, creating jobs in installation, electrical wiring, and maintenance of batteries, tube wells, and related equipment.

Muhammad Saeed, a local solar appliances dealer, estimates that most households in the city have adopted solar power, with upgrades to lithium batteries following price drops. As traditional electricians witness a decline in conventional electrical-appliance repairs, they are now taking on jobs related to solar systems, such as tube well installations and specialised wiring.

The power outages plaguing the city are the primary reason behind the transition. Pesco data indicate that 43 of the city's 83 electricity feeders experience line losses of at least 80 per cent, with some residents enduring power outages lasting 16 to 18 hours daily. Rising temperatures during summer also add to the incentive for seeking alternatives.

The solar boom in Dera Ismail Khan is part of a broader shift across Pakistan, driven by falling prices of Chinese-made solar panels and rising electricity tariffs. The UK-based energy think tank Ember estimates that Pakistan's solar power generation surged by 21 terawatt-hours in just two years, with distributed solar accounting for 28 per cent of the country's electricity generation in FY25.