The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has announced its decision to frame rules and regulations for the installation of solar panels across Punjab.

The PDMA has sent a letter to all deputy commissioners, telling district administrations to make sure solar panels are safely installed, especially on rooftops and open structures. Officials have been told to start working on standard guidelines and begin using them right away.

The letter clearly says that only certified and standard-compliant solar panels should be allowed for installation from now on. The PDMA also highlighted the importance of regular inspections to prevent risks caused by weak mounts or low-quality materials.

PDMA’s Director General, Irfan Ali Kathia, shared that around 70 percent of accidents during strong winds and storms are due to badly installed or poor-quality solar panels. He said that in many cases, panels attached to poles or light structures came loose during storms, damaging property and hurting people.

This step is part of a larger national move towards solar energy, which has grown due to high electricity prices and power cuts. But the government’s recent choice to cut the buyback rate under net-metering from Rs20 to Rs10 per unit has slowed down the fast-growing solar market.