Rooftop revolution: why Pakistan is China's solar test-case

中国绿能点亮巴铁

Drum Tower

2025-11-12

33 分钟
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单集简介 ...

China's green technology is reshaping landscapes, markets and geopolitics across much of the world—but perhaps nowhere more so than in Pakistan. How has the rapid adoption of cheap Chinese solar panels reshaped the energy landscape there, and what lessons can China's business and political leaders draw from it?  Hosts:  Jeremy Page, The Economist's chief China correspondent, and China researcher Jiehao Chen. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.  For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
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单集文稿 ...

  • The Economist.

  • So I'm in Lahore, which is Pakistan's second biggest city, and it's been a while since I was last here.

  • It all looks pretty familiar, except for one big difference,

  • which is that many of the buildings here now have solar panels on their roofs,

  • and that goes for swanky bungalows, hotels, banks, government buildings,

  • and even some of the smaller houses and street side vendors.

  • And almost all of these solar panels have been imported from China in the last few years.

  • China's exports of green technology are transforming landscapes, markets, and politics around the world.

  • But in the last two years, no country has felt their impact more than Pakistan.

  • In fact, such is the pace of the energy transition there,

  • that it became the world's second biggest importer of solar panels this year.

  • This solar revolution is improving many lives in a country long plagued by power shortages.

  • But it's also putting huge strain on the national power system as many people simply unplug from the grid,

  • pushing up prices for remaining customers in what is sometimes called a utility death spiral.

  • This week, as Chinese officials join their counterparts at the United Nations climate change conference in Brazil,

  • we're asking, how is China driving the developing world's green transition,

  • and what more could China do beyond selling the kit?

  • I'm Jeremy Paige, The Economist's Chief China Correspondent in Taipei.

  • I'm Jehao Chan, The Economist China Researcher in London.

  • And this is Drum Tower.