Pakistan, May 4 -- When Punjab's Rs?9?billion solarisation scheme for agricultural tube wells was launched, it promised not just relief from rising diesel and electricity costs. It promised dignity, self-reliance, and economic breathing room for over 450,000 farmers. Today, those promises lie in limbo.

The delay, even if the administration may be working in overdrive, understandably feels like a betrayal to the farmers. Over half a million, many of whom staked their entire seasonal strategy on this subsidy, now face silence and stagnation. After months of enthusiasm, only 121 installations have been completed, while thousands of approved applications gather dust in government offices.

The root of the problem appears to be the abrupt han...