In Pakistan, 144 million people, out of a total of 197 million, are deprived of an adequate supply of electricity. About 69 million rural Pakistanis are not connected to the national grid, and about 75 million urban and rural Pakistanis are connected to the national grid but experience daily load-shedding or blackouts in excess of 12 hours on average. These 22 million households end up spending a massive US$2.3 billion every year on alternative sources of power. However, unreliable and poor-quality lighting products limit productivity and waste money.
The initiatives in Pakistan are part of Lighting Pakistan/Afghanistan, which aims to enable 1.5 million Pakistanis to have access to modern energy services for lighting and related services.
In order to help build a sustainable market for high-quality off-grid lighting solutions in the long term, Lighting Asia/Pakistan is working on multiple fronts:
Quality Assurance
We arrange for product testing and quality verification for our manufacturing associates who are interested in joining the program. This quality assurance makes it easier for distributors and consumers to differentiate between poor-quality and high-quality products. The QA framework and test methods have been institutionalized through, and are now based on, IEC/TS 62257-9-5, a technical specification published by the International Electrotechnical Commission. Lighting Global maintains a set of minimum quality standards, which off-grid lighting products must meet in order to access program services.
Market Intelligence
We conduct in-depth research into market fundamentals and share insights with our associates in order to support their decision-making.
Business Development
We make direct connections between quality-verified manufacturing associates and distribution associates, as well as microfinance institutions. The purpose of these direct connections is to lower market entry costs for manufacturers and assist distributors in developing a viable off-grid lighting sector.
Consumer Awareness
We work with our associates to launch targeted consumer awareness campaigns in order to inform potential consumers in Pakistan about the opportunities that modern off-grid lighting presents and assist them in making informed purchasing decisions.
Stories of Impact
Kubra Khaliq: Seamstress and beneficiary of an IFC program to expand solar-powered home lighting systems.
Qutub Ali Shah: Merchant and owner of a solar lamp distributed through IFC’s Lighting Pakistan program.
Imran Khan: Shopowner and a beneficiary of an IFC program to expand solar-powered lighting systems.
Muhammad Ali: Entrepreneur and owner of a solar lamp distributed through IFC’s Lighting Pakistan program.
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For more details on the Lighting Pakistan/Afghanistan country programs, go to the dedicated website, on http://lightingasia.org/Pakistan/