04/07/2026
Can someone really invest up to PKR 40 billion to fix Hunza’s electricity problem — almost equal to the entire annual development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan, around PKR 37 billion?
Hunza has a population of about 60,000–65,000, but providing reliable 24/7 electricity requires more than temporary generators or small schemes. A serious clean-energy solution may cost around PKR 25–40 billion.
A realistic hybrid plan could include:
Hydropower: PKR 15–25 billion
Solar power: PKR 4–7 billion
Battery storage: PKR 4–8 billion
Transmission and grid upgrades: PKR 2–5 billion
Emergency backup/system management: PKR 0.5–1 billion
Total for Hunza: around PKR 25–40 billion.
And this is only Hunza. For all of Gilgit-Baltistan, where demand is around 200–250 MW and winter supply drops sharply, a district-wise hybrid energy plan may cost roughly PKR 300–600 billion over several years. This could include 250–350 MW hydropower, 150–250 MW solar, 300–600 MWh battery storage, and major transmission upgrades across GB’s valleys.
The real issue is scale. Hunza — and all of GB — needs a serious, clean, permanent, and well-funded energy plan, not short-term promises.
Note: These are planning-level estimates based on population, seasonal demand, tourism load, mountain topography, hydropower potential, solar support, battery storage, transmission needs, and major equipment costs. Final costs would require a detailed engineering feasibility study.
Sadaqat Hussain Shahab Sadruddin Hunzai Hunza News Bol Hunza Bol Hunza Naiknam Karim
Key Sources reviewed
Aga Khan Development Network. (2024, June8). Launch of the development of Duiker Phase II and Nasirabad solar power plants in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/launch-of-the-development-of-duiker-phase-ii-and-nasirabad-solar-power-plants
Butt, A. Q., Shangguan, D., Waseem, M., Haq, F. U., Ding, Y., Mukhtar, M. A., Afzal, M., & Muhammad, A. (2023). Ascertainment of hydropower potential sites using location search algorithm in Hunza River Basin, Pakistan. Water, 15(16), 2929. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15162929
Dawn. (2024, June 10). Prince Rahim launches two solar power plants in Hunza. https://www.dawn.com/news/1838902
Dawn. (2025, January 31). GB loadshedding. https://www.dawn.com/news/1888826
Dawn. (2025, June 27). Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly passes Rs148.63bn budget. https://www.dawn.com/news/1920458
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2025). Renewable power generation costs in 2024.https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2025/Jul/IRENA_TEC_RPGC_in_2024_2025.pdf
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2023). U.S. solar photovoltaic system and energy storage cost benchmarks, with minimum sustainable price analysis: Q1 2023. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2005540
Water and Power Development Authority. (n.d.). Attabad Lake Hydropower Project. https://wapda.gov.pk/attabad-lake-hydropower-project/
