CM Punjab Solar Tubewell Scheme — How to Apply (2026)

Q: What if my tubewell is on leased land, not owned land?

Leased land is eligible if the lease is formally registered with the revenue department and has at least five more years remaining. The application requires the lease agreement plus a no-objection certificate from the landowner authorising the solar installation on their land. Informal lease arrangements (sharecropping, seasonal tenancy) are not eligible.

Q: Can I add solar to two tubewells under separate applications?

Yes, but the subsidy is capped at one tubewell per farmer per fiscal year. If you have two tubewells on a 30-acre farm, you apply for one tubewell this fiscal year and the second next fiscal year. The scheme rules prevent farmers from claiming subsidies for multiple tubewells simultaneously.

The CM Punjab Solar Tubewell Scheme converts existing diesel-powered and grid-electric agricultural tubewells to solar power at heavily subsidised rates. Launched in 2024, the scheme addresses two challenges simultaneously — Punjab's expensive agricultural electricity costs and the rising price of diesel for off-grid tubewells. Selected farmers receive 60% to 80% subsidy on the solar system installation, with the balance paid by the farmer either upfront or through concessional financing.

Farmers who can convert to solar tubewells

The scheme targets farmers with existing operational tubewells rather than fresh tubewell installations. Eligibility criteria:

Holds Punjab domicile and a valid Pakistani CNIC.
Owns agricultural land between 5 and 50 acres in Punjab.
Has at least one operational tubewell on the land — verified by Punjab Agriculture Department records.
Tubewell is registered with the Punjab Irrigation Department or the local water management board.
Has been actively farming on the land for at least two years (verified through revenue records and crop registration).
No active default on any agricultural loan or bank credit facility.

The 5-50 acre band specifically targets small to medium farmers who would benefit most from the subsidy. Larger farms (above 50 acres) can apply for the scheme but at a reduced 50% subsidy rate, reflecting their greater capacity to self-finance solar conversion.

Tubewells running on grid electricity are eligible if the electricity connection is in the applicant's name. Off-grid diesel-powered tubewells are eligible if registered with the Irrigation Department. Newly drilled tubewells without established water yield records are not eligible — the scheme prioritises proven operational wells.

System sizes for different farm acreages

Solar system sizing is matched to the tubewell's pumping requirement, which depends on the well's depth, the pump's horsepower rating, and the daily irrigation demand of the farm area served. Standard sizing tiers are:

5 HP system — for shallow tubewells (under 100 feet) serving 5 to 10 acres. Includes 10 panels and a 5 HP solar pump-controller.
7.5 HP system — for medium-depth tubewells (100-200 feet) serving 10 to 20 acres. Includes 16 panels and a 7.5 HP controller.
10 HP system — for deeper tubewells (200-300 feet) serving 20 to 30 acres. Includes 22 panels and a 10 HP controller.
15 HP system — for deep tubewells (300+ feet) serving 30 to 50 acres. Includes 32 panels and a 15 HP controller.
20-25 HP systems — available for larger farms but at reduced subsidy levels and requiring additional technical assessment.

System sizing is determined by an Agriculture Department technical surveyor during the verification visit. The surveyor measures the existing tubewell's specifications, estimates the typical daily water requirement based on the farm's crops, and recommends the appropriate solar capacity. The recommendation is binding — you cannot upsize beyond what the survey recommends in order to maintain scheme economics.

Subsidy amounts and farmer contribution

The subsidy structure varies by farm size and tubewell type:

Small farms (5-15 acres) — 80% subsidy. Farmer contribution typically Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 300,000 depending on system size.
Medium farms (15-30 acres) — 70% subsidy. Farmer contribution Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 500,000.
Larger farms (30-50 acres) — 60% subsidy. Farmer contribution Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 800,000.

Total system costs (before subsidy) typically range from Rs. 800,000 for the 5 HP system to Rs. 2,800,000 for the 15 HP system. Even at the higher tiers, the farmer's effective out-of-pocket cost is a fraction of what private solar installation would cost — and the system pays back the farmer's contribution within two to four years of installation through saved electricity or diesel costs.

For farmers unable to pay the contribution upfront, concessional financing is available through Bank of Punjab at 5% interest with a five-year repayment term. The financing covers the farmer's share of the system cost, with monthly instalments calibrated to be lower than the typical monthly electricity or diesel saving — meaning the system is essentially cash-flow positive from month one.

Documents and existing tubewell records

The Solar Tubewell application requires extensive land and tubewell documentation:

CNIC of applicant — original and photocopy.
Punjab domicile certificate.
Fard (land ownership record) — latest copy from the patwari.
Khasra-Khatauni — detailed land record showing land area and boundaries.
Tubewell registration certificate from the Punjab Irrigation Department or local water management board.
Tubewell specifications — depth, pump horsepower, current power source (electric meter number or diesel engine model).
Six months of electricity bills for the tubewell connection (if electric) — useful for sizing and savings calculations.
Crop pattern record from the Agriculture Extension office showing what crops are grown on the irrigated land.
Bank account information for subsidy verification and any financing arrangements.

Conversion and installation timeline

Apply through the Punjab Agriculture Department portal
Go to agriculture.punjab.gov.pk or visit the local Agriculture Extension office. Online submission is preferred — the portal accepts digital uploads of all required documents and generates a tracking number immediately.
Wait for the technical site survey
Within four to six weeks of submission, an Agriculture Department technical surveyor visits your farm. The surveyor measures the tubewell, assesses solar panel siting (open area with good sun exposure), and recommends a system size. Be present and have access to the tubewell and surrounding land ready.
Review the technical recommendation
The survey produces a written recommendation specifying the system size, total cost, your subsidy amount and your contribution amount. Review carefully — the recommendation determines what gets installed and what you pay. Disputes about system sizing can be appealed to the district Agriculture Officer within two weeks.
Pay your contribution
Either deposit the full contribution amount with the scheme administrator, or arrange financing through Bank of Punjab if needed. Financing applications add two to four weeks to the timeline. Direct payment moves to installation scheduling immediately.
Installation
An approved installation contractor (selected by the Agriculture Department from a pre-qualified vendor list) schedules the installation work. The physical installation typically takes two to three days for smaller systems and up to a week for larger 15 HP installations. The contractor handles panel mounting, controller installation, wiring and tubewell integration. Net metering (for grid-connected systems) is activated within three to four weeks of installation through coordinated DISCO procedures.

Solar tubewell — frequent farmer questions

Will the solar tubewell work at night or during cloudy days?

Solar tubewells operate during sunlight hours. They do not run at night without batteries (which are not included in the standard system). During cloudy weather, the system produces reduced output proportional to the available sunlight. Most farmers schedule irrigation during sunny midday hours and supplement with grid electricity or diesel at night when extended pumping is needed. For 24-hour irrigation requirements, larger battery storage can be added at extra cost but is rarely necessary for typical crop irrigation patterns.

What if my tubewell does not have enough water yield for my farm?

The scheme addresses solar conversion only — it does not fix underlying water yield problems. If your tubewell is underperforming due to falling water tables or aquifer depletion, solar conversion alone will not solve the irrigation shortage. You may need to drill deeper or seek additional water sources. The Agriculture Department survey specifically notes any yield concerns and may decline scheme approval if the tubewell is fundamentally underperforming.

Can I sell surplus solar electricity back to the grid?

Yes, if your tubewell has a grid electricity connection. The system includes net metering equipment that allows surplus solar production during off-irrigation hours to be fed back into the grid. Your electricity bill will reflect net consumption — and in some cases, during seasons of low irrigation demand, you may actually be earning credits from the grid. Off-grid diesel-replaced tubewells cannot sell electricity (no grid connection exists).

What if my tubewell is on leased land, not owned land?

Can I add solar to two tubewells under separate applications?

What happens if part of the system fails after installation?

Approved contractors provide a two-year warranty on installation work and a one-year warranty on the controller/inverter. Panels carry the manufacturer's standard 10-year warranty. Failures during the warranty period are fixed by the contractor at no cost — they remain responsible until the warranty expires. Out-of-warranty failures are the farmer's responsibility, though Agriculture Department maintains a list of certified service providers offering competitive repair rates.

Note on monsoon and grid-tie behaviour

Solar tubewells in Punjab typically operate at about 85% of their rated capacity over a full year, with seasonal variation. Summer (April-September) produces near-rated output for 8-10 hours daily. Winter and monsoon months (November-February and July-August) see reduced output due to shorter days and frequent cloud cover. Most farmers find the seasonal variation aligns reasonably with irrigation demand — peak summer irrigation needs coincide with peak solar production, while winter low-demand periods coincide with lower production.

For grid-connected systems with net metering, the seasonal balance works even better. Summer surplus production builds credit on your DISCO account; winter low-production months are partially offset by drawing on accumulated credit. Annual net cost can approach zero for farms whose irrigation use aligns well with seasonal production patterns.

System sizes, subsidy percentages and farmer contribution ranges described above reflect the Solar Tubewell Scheme as of early 2026. The Punjab Agriculture Department reviews these terms annually based on solar equipment costs and budget allocations — verify current terms at your local Agriculture Extension office before relying on details from this guide.