PESHAWAR: After exemption of customs duty on solar panels, the prices of solar panels have reduced to great extent, which has not only increased the import of other solar appliances but also enabled the common men to manage alternate source of energy.
The decision of government and custom authorities has been widely appreciated by the people as it was not affordable for common men to manage this alternate source of energy with high prices along custom duty. After exemption of custom duty the prices came under the control.
As the mercury going high, flow of the electricity decreases and the local tribal turn to solar energy, comparatively a cheaper source; however the tribal regretted that it cannot meet their daily necessities of life. Nowadays, one can notice crowd of customer on selling of solar panel in the local market from dust to dawn due to lowering prices caused by exemption of custom duties.
Providing details Faizullah, a businessman said, last time the solar panels were transported across the border from Afghanistan, however presently the commodity has been imported to Pakistan through sea port.
All the solar panels available in the markets with different names and brands are China made and the panels producing 5 watts electricity to 250 watts are available in the market, costing from Rs 1500 to Rs 10,000.
More than three dozen shops were dealing in the business and each year the selling was going on the rise, he said. Identifying advantages of the solar system, he said the consumer has to spend once for its installation and then benefiting for long.
Local electrician Waheedullah appreciated government steps for exempting customs duty on these panels. He said that during day time, the system is being provided power and simultaneously charge the batteries for night use.
In addition, beside it is a cheap source of power, home appliances necessary for daily life like, solar fans, mobile charger, Geezers, solar bulbs,iron,washing machine etc. are also abundantly accessible in the market, he opined.
Uqab Khan,28 a Khasadar personnel who was selecting a solar panel at the one of the shop said, the solar energy is an alternate sources of power in scorching heat during month of Ramadan however,it is an extra burden on the pocket of middle class citizen and fixed salary holder as one has to bear expenses of buying solar panels, appliances of 12 volts and other fitting expenditure.
Bakhmal Khan, a taxi driver and a resident of Shiekhmal Khel, said ,being daily wager it is still out of his buying range but daily 20 hours break down of electricity compel him to borrow money from his relatives to place the system. His children can no longer bear mosquito’ bits and sleepless night, he regretted.
