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ISLAMABAD: The federal government has intensified its efforts to promote renewable energy by resolving over 11,000 pending net-metering applications. The move reinforces state policy to foster solar growth and protect consumers' rights while establishing a transparent, sustainable power system. This major administrative breakthrough aims to clear regulatory bottlenecks and streamline the country's transition towards a durable solar-powered future. Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari ordered the resolution of the 11,695 pending net metering cases, and the process of direct communication with the affected consumers officially commenced. "The government's top priority is to resolve legitimate public grievances without unnecessary delays or interference," Mr Leghari said. He directed the relevant organisations to expedite the scrutiny of the remaining pending applications and to ensure that every consumer receives clear and transparent updates. This initiative aims to ensure that every eligible consumer receives their due rights in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, eliminating the need to rely on any third party, agent, or intermediary to resolve their cases. During the transition phase from net metering to the net billing system, a total of 16,654 applications were pending. Under the federal minister's directives, a comprehensive verification and validation process was launched to resolve all these cases on a priority basis. Through the collaborative efforts of the Power Division and relevant institutions, 11,695 applications have been cleared, verified, and deemed fully compliant with applicable rules and regulations to date. The Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC) has initiated direct contact with these consumers to provide timely, reliable updates on the verification of their applications and subsequent steps. PITC is reaching out to the respective consumers directly via SMS, WhatsApp, and other digital channels. Additionally, consumers can check the status of their applications online at: nmverification.pitc.com.pk. The government has also clarified that no fees or payments are required to be made to any individual for the expedited or further processing of their applications. This direct communication system is vital to safeguarding consumers from unnecessary interference and to preventing individuals or agents from exploiting them under the guise of application processing or resolution. Through this mechanism, the government is ensuring that legitimate consumer matters are resolved directly, transparently, and without any unauthorised intermediaries. The verification and validation process for the remaining 4,959 applications is currently underway. This ensures that every application is thoroughly evaluated against relevant records, NEPRA clarifications, rules, and guidelines. The objective is to ensure that every genuine consumer receives their rights without delay while preventing illegal, fraudulent, or misinformation-based applications from exploiting the system. Solarisation remains a critical pillar of the country's energy future, and state policy is aimed not at creating hurdles in this sector, but rather at fostering its growth while protecting consumer rights and ensuring a transparent, sustainable system. Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2026 Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.