The CM Punjab Solar Tubewell Scheme replaces diesel and electric pumps with solar-powered irrigation systems for small farmers in Punjab — the government installs the system on eligible land at no cost, eliminating recurring fuel and electricity bills.
Check If You Qualify for Solar Tubewell
The CM Punjab Solar Tubewell Scheme provides subsidised solar-powered water pumping systems to small farmers in Punjab who currently use diesel or electric pumps for agricultural irrigation. The scheme dramatically reduces irrigation costs — replacing diesel fuel costs and electricity bills with free solar energy.
Eligible farmers typically own 2–25 acres of agricultural land and have an existing tubewell or borewel on their land. The solar system is installed on the pump — it doesn't replace the pump itself, just the power source. Check current scheme phase at agripunjab.gov.pk or the Punjab Irrigation Department portal.
Gather Agricultural Documents
Required for the Solar Tubewell application:
- CNIC (Punjab domicile)
- Fard (land record) from PLRA showing ownership of agricultural land
- Existing electricity connection details for the tubewell (if electric pump)
- Farm size and crop declaration
- Photograph of existing pump/tubewell setup
PLRA Fard must be recent (within 3–6 months). If land records show a different owner, complete the mutation process before applying.
Apply at District Agriculture or Irrigation Office
Submit your application at the District Agriculture Office or the Punjab Irrigation Department office for your district. Online applications are accepted at agripunjab.gov.pk in phases that support digital submission.
A technical officer visits your farm to assess the pump specifications, calculate the required solar system size (in kW), and prepare a technical report supporting your application. Be present and cooperative during the visit — the assessment determines the subsidy amount and system specifications.
Installation and Commissioning
Approved applicants receive solar panels, mounting structure, inverter, and wiring through government-approved vendors. Installation is done by the vendor's technical team with oversight from the Agriculture Department.
The system is sized to your specific pump motor load — a 5HP pump needs approximately a 4–5 kW solar system; a 10HP pump needs 8–10 kW. After installation, the vendor demonstrates operation, provides a warranty certificate, and registers the system with the Punjab Agriculture Department's monitoring database.
Application and Eligibility Problems
The scheme is for existing pumps being converted to solar. For new tubewell installation with solar, check ZTBL's agricultural solar finance scheme or the Punjab Green Credit Programme instead.
Co-ownership is acceptable but may require consent letters from all co-owners. Each co-owner applying separately for the same land would be rejected — one application per tubewell, not per person.
The system size is based on your pump motor load (HP rating). If your pump is small, the system is small accordingly. Installing a larger system than needed would be waste — match the solar to the actual pump load.
Frequently Asked Questions
The subsidy percentage varies by phase — farmers typically pay 20–40% of system cost, with the government covering 60–80%. The farmer's contribution can sometimes be financed through ZTBL agricultural loans.
You can either keep the LESCO connection as backup (paying the monthly minimum charges) or apply to disconnect it. Most farmers keep the connection for cloudy days when solar generation is insufficient for irrigation.
Panels typically carry a 25-year performance warranty; inverters 5–10 years. The government-approved vendors are responsible for warranty service — keep all documentation provided at installation.