How to read a solar quotation in Pakistan without getting caught

A solar quotation is one of the few large purchases where the buyer usually cannot evaluate what they are being sold. You can compare two cars. Comparing two 100 kW system quotations, one at PKR 11 million and one at PKR 13 million, requires knowing whether the difference is the panels, the inverter, the structure, the cable, the margin, or the warranty — and most quotations are written so that you cannot tell.

I have no margin on equipment, so I have nothing to lose by writing this down — my fee is 4% of project cost, invoiced on commissioning, and the equipment is passed through at wholesale with the original invoices. Here is what to check.

1. Is it itemised, or is it one number?

A quotation reading "100 kW solar system, supply and installation — PKR 12,000,000" tells you nothing. You should see line items: module make, model and count; inverter make, model and count; structure type and material; DC and AC cable specification and length; protection devices; earthing; and labour. If those are consolidated into one figure, the reason is usually that the individual figures would invite questions.

2. The module line: model number, not just wattage

"550W panels" is not a specification. "JA JAM72D40 715W N-Type bifacial" is. The things that matter and are routinely omitted: whether it is N-Type or P-Type, whether it is bifacial, the temperature coefficient, and the warranty terms — typically 12 years product and 25 to 30 years performance on tier-one modules.

N-Type matters in Pakistan specifically because of the temperature coefficient. Panels are rated at 25°C. Punjab summers sit far above that, and P-Type modules lose more output per degree — in exactly the conditions where you generate most. A cheaper P-Type quotation can be the more expensive system over its life.

3. The inverter line: sizing ratio and redundancy

Check the DC-to-AC ratio. Array capacity is normally somewhat above inverter capacity, which is deliberate and correct — but an aggressively oversized array will clip output at midday, and that clipping should be a stated design decision rather than a surprise.

On larger systems, ask why the inverter count is what it is. Two 125 kW units instead of one 250 kW unit costs slightly more and means a single fault takes out half your generation rather than all of it. On the 1 MW plant at Simta Foods I split the load for exactly that reason. Neither choice is wrong; not having a reason is.

4. The parts you will never see again once the roof is up

This is where quotations are quietly cut, because nobody inspects it and it does not affect day-one generation. It affects year-eight generation, and whether the array is still on the roof after a storm.

• Structure — material and gauge. Aluminium rail versus painted mild steel is a 25-year decision, not a cosmetic one.
• DC cable — cross-section and whether it is genuinely solar-rated. Undersized DC cable costs you output every day for the life of the system and is invisible in a quotation.
• Earthing and lightning protection — frequently omitted entirely on domestic quotations.
• DC isolators and surge protection — the components that decide whether a fault is a service call or a fire.
• Anchoring and waterproofing detail at every roof penetration.

5. What "after-sales" means in writing

Ask for it in specifics: what is the response time, what is covered, what is chargeable, who physically comes, and for how long. "Free after-sales service" with none of those defined is not a commitment. Also ask who handles a manufacturer warranty claim — a warranty you have to chase alone is worth considerably less than one someone chases for you.

6. Who does the net metering application

Confirm whether the application to your distribution company is included or extra, and who prepares the documentation. The process runs alongside installation and can add several weeks on its own. It is a common place for a quotation to be quietly light.

Red flags

• A payback figure with no statement of whether it assumes self-consumption or export.
• Pressure to sign at a price valid "today only". Equipment prices move on supply, not on your decision speed.
• Reluctance to name module and inverter model numbers before contract.
• A large advance with no milestone schedule tied to delivery and commissioning.
• Any claim about buyback rates with no date attached. The regime changed in February 2026; figures from before that are simply wrong now.

None of this requires an engineering degree. It requires asking specific questions and noticing whether you get specific answers.