The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a 100 megawatts solar power plant project on Saturday for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), a few days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the initiative.
During his recent visit to GB earlier this week, the Prime Minister unveiled a rescue set of 4 billion rupees for the region affected by floods, as well as plans for the solar energy project and the creation of a Danish school for disadvantaged children.
After the green light from the ECNEC, formal work on the food project should start immediately. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had already erased the plan before the ECNEC approval.
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The solar project will be implemented in several districts, notably Astore, Darel, Tangir, Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Ishkoman, Nagar, Rondu, Skardu and Shigar.
The implementation will take place in three phases. In the first phase, Skardu will receive 18,958 megawatts of electricity. The second phase will provide 6.005 MW to Hunza, 28.013MW in Gilgit and 13,126 MW in Diamer. The remaining districts will obtain 16.096 MW in the final phase.
In addition, the project will deliver 18,162 solar energy megawatts out of network to hospitals and government offices in the region, which facilitates the burden of existing infrastructure.
With an estimated total cost of RS24,957 billion, the solar energy initiative should be completed within three years. Managers say that the project will help fill the energy gap in the remote northern region and support essential public services.
