The initial phase of the project was constructed by the Government of Punjab through a 100% owned subsidiary QA Solar in May 2015 at a cost of $131 million.

[4] In Sept 2013, Govt of Punjab signed an MOU with TBEA SunOasis of China to set up a 1000MWp solar power plant.

The 100 MW project was completed within the scheduled nine months as per the contract and was commissioned at the end of March 2015[7] and was inaugurated on 5 May 2015 by Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif[8] in a well-publicized ceremony at Bahawalpur.

The substation area also includes 100MVA switch gear and VAR protection along with a state of the art DCS and SCADA control system.

The 132KV electrical output of the power plant is connected to the NTDC national grid via a 132kV transmission line that runs through the Solar Park.

[13] The second phase of project started in September 2015 by issuance of a letter of Intent (LOI) to Zonergy, a subsidiary of ZTE, a telecommunication giant of China.

However, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), immediately criticized the award of the contract without competitive bidding and completion of the entire process in just one week's time.

[14] The central contract cell of WAPDA narrated, "Entire deal is shrouded in mystery and would create legal and contractual problems for everyone."

Opposition took the government to Supreme Court of Pakistan in November 2014, on violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PEPRA) rules and fast track award of the contract.

[15] Anwar Kamal, a legal expert, said that, "accepting high risk bank guarantees creating rights for the investor will haunt Punjab government in future.

[39][40] Finally, the scores were settled attributing subsidy contributed by Ministry of Water and Power; however, it added to existing circular debt and the remaining was transferred to consumers.

A major controversy broke in December 2017, when a company named Jahangir Siddiqui & Co Ltd (JSCL), owned by Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, the business partner and close friend of Sharif family, was pre-qualified to attain 100% equity stake in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power (Private) Limited.

[47] Despite the criticism on awarding business partners for ownership of the project, Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. was invited in March 2018 to submit bid along with eight other companies.

[48] Although the bidding process was due to be completed in April 2018, the process was delayed[49] because of a corruption probe by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiated by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar,[50] after heavy misappropriation was found in the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP)'s report.

Financial analyst Farrukh Saleem wrote that solar energy generated in Pakistan had amongst the highest per unit costs.

Although the global cost of production for solar energy declined sharply between 2012 and 2017, contractors are paid large sums.

[55] According to Ministry of Water and Power the costs of the expensive tariff and the subsidies given to the project are borne by the consumers in the form of high surcharges.

[41] In March 2018 the Auditor General of Pakistan published a shocking report of serious irregularities in the award of procurements and construction (EPC) contracts and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts:[51] Quaid-e-Azam solar park is located in UNESCO declared biosphere reserve, Lal Suhanra National Park.

The environmentalists and experts reflected their surprise that why Balochistan having lot of barren land, high solar profile and low dust count was not selected as a potential site.

[32] During construction of the project trees worth 100 thousand of rupees were disposed at cheap rates in the dark to open market without any auctioning.

Forest department officials said that Vachellia nilotica kikar trees worth 100 thousand of rupees were sold illegally to acquire the site.

[56] Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of the ongoing corruption inquires for the Quaid-e-Azam solar project, and demanded reports of its monthly production and expenditure information.

[60] In June 2018, ex-CEO Ahad Cheema was summoned to court on 56 company cases, to present his views on the Quaid-i-Azam Solar power project.