In summer, heat waves rise from the fields. Diesel generators rumble along the ridgelines, their oily smoke drifting close to the ground. Pumps shudder as they push groundwater into irrigation ditches — this was once a common sight across Pakistan during the irrigation season.

Now, however, things are changing in some agricultural zones. Solar modules produced by Tongwei Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Tongwei"), a Sichuan-based enterprise, have taken root in Pakistan's fields. Row after row of panels convert sunlight into electricity, powering water pumps and easing local farmers' anxiety over electricity and water during planting. This is not just a successful product export — it is also a low-cost, sustainable, and replicable green solution that Chinese solar companies are offering for Pakistan's agricultural production.

Starting with "Two Containers"

Chen Fangzhou, head of overseas module marketing at Tongwei's Photovoltaic Business Division, explains that Pakistan's energy mix has long been dominated by oil, natural gas, and other traditional sources. Domestic energy is relatively scarce, leading to heavy reliance on imported energy. Electricity costs remain persistently high, placing a heavy burden on both ordinary residents and agricultural producers. Agricultural sites are scattered, and grid coverage is limited — some areas struggle to connect stably to centralized power systems. At the same time, Pakistan is rich in solar resources. Against this backdrop, distributed, off-grid solar systems are more easily deployed in farmland, on rooftops, and at small and medium-sized commercial and industrial sites.

Sunrise over paddy fields in Pakistan

Chen Fangzhou, head of overseas module marketing at Tongwei's Photovoltaic Business Division, explains that Pakistan's energy mix has long been dominated by oil, natural gas, and other traditional sources. Domestic energy is relatively scarce, leading to heavy reliance on imported energy. Electricity costs remain persistently high, placing a heavy burden on both ordinary residents and agricultural producers. Agricultural sites are scattered, and grid coverage is limited — some areas struggle to connect stably to centralized power systems. At the same time, Pakistan is rich in solar resources. Against this backdrop, distributed, off-grid solar systems are more easily deployed in farmland, on rooftops, and at small and medium-sized commercial and industrial sites.

"For Chinese solar companies, this is both a market opportunity and part of the global industrial layout. The Pakistani government began promoting a comprehensive solar plan about three years ago. When Tongwei entered the local market, the first opportunity we saw was agricultural solar applications," Chen said.

Tongwei's first order in Pakistan came from a local agricultural park project — roughly 1 megawatt, about two shipping containers — primarily designed to enable distributed solar self-generation and self-consumption in agricultural settings, reducing irrigation and production electricity costs.

From 1 Megawatt to 650 Megawatts

Unlike coastal manufacturing bases that rely heavily on sea freight, Tongwei is based in Sichuan. When serving Central and South Asian markets, it can leverage rail transport to improve delivery speed and reduce logistics costs. Amid fluctuations in global shipping cycles and rising international logistics costs, this overland corridor stretching from Sichuan to South Asia has become a locational advantage for western Chinese manufacturers competing internationally.

Wan Zesen (far left), head of Tongwei's Pakistan operations, signing a contract with local clients

As cooperation deepened, the Tongwei team gained a better understanding of the local market. For local operations, the company relies on local distributors and small-to-medium installers to expand its terminal network, and hires Pakistani sales staff to maintain client relationships — improving communication efficiency and helping the company more accurately understand customer needs.

From that first trial order of two containers, roughly 1 megawatt, to signing a 650-megawatt solar module supply agreement in 2025 with three Pakistani companies — Perfect Services, Nimir Energy, and Mateen Sons — Tongwei's cooperation scale in the country has grown steadily. For Chinese solar companies, what truly opens overseas markets is often not the lowest price, but the comprehensive trust that customers build over time in product stability, delivery capability, and service systems.

A "Win-Win" Path for Livelihoods and Development

Against the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, this kind of green energy cooperation has taken on even more concrete real-world significance.

Pakistan needs an economic, stable, and clean energy upgrade. Chinese solar companies, meanwhile, hold comprehensive advantages in large-scale manufacturing and supply chain synergy. "If I had to use one word, it would be 'win-win,'" Chen said. As global energy cost volatility intensifies, more and more countries are turning renewed attention to the stability and sustainability of their energy supply. For many ordinary households and agricultural producers, energy is not just a number on a bill — it is about whether irrigation can continue, whether factories can run, and whether homes can be reliably lit at night.

Chen Fangzhou, head of overseas module marketing at Tongwei's Photovoltaic Business Division

From water pumps in the fields to distributed power systems on rooftops, from South Asia to the Middle East, solar panels made in China are entering more ordinary households and production sites in regions that lack electricity. The value of green energy cooperation is reflected not only in installed capacity and trade figures, but in these concrete, everyday scenes.

Sunlight is a relatively fair natural resource. The significance of technology, manufacturing capability, and cross-border supply chains lies in enabling more people to convert sunlight into stable, clean, and affordable electricity. For developing countries still facing energy pressure, solar power offers not just a new energy option, but a development pathway that strengthens the resilience of people's livelihoods.