Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the authorities on Tuesday to ensure the completion of the solar energy project of 100 megawatts in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in a year, reaffirming the financial commitment of the federal government to the initiative.
Chairing an exam meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said that the project would be executed as a priority to provide uninterrupted, inexpensive and environmentally friendly electricity to the region, which often faces extended power outages.
The Prime Minister said that he would personally oversee the progress of the project, which he described as a crucial step towards the end of energy shortages in GB. He also asked that the infrastructure be built to withstand the impacts of climate change.
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Stressing the urgency of the question, he said: “Solarization offers the most practical solution for distant regions like GB, where 18 to 20 hours of load shedding remain a routine challenge.”
PM Shehbaz has also ordered that the supply of electricity of hydroelectric and solar sources is reinforced to help residents to meet extreme weather conditions and power disturbances.
To ensure effective implementation, the Minister of Energy Awais Leghari was appointed Chairman of the steering committee supervising the project. During the briefing, the meeting was informed that six solar parks would be created in Gilgit, eight in Skardu and six in Diamer.
In addition, solar panels would be installed on 234 government buildings in Gilgit, 179 in Skardu and 66 in Diamer. A real -time monitoring system for the battery is also under development.
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The officials assured that the project would meet international standards and that transparency would be ensured throughout its construction.
The project had previously been announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz during his visit to GB, because the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) also approved the project a few days later.
In addition, during a meeting with the president of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the LT GEN INAM HAIDER MALIK, the Prime Minister ordered the authority to improve coordination with provincial governments for effective efforts of response and rehabilitation in the midst of recent rains and floods.
He called for rapid operationalization of the GB early alert system in coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change, stressing the importance of timely alerts in vulnerable areas to reduce risks during extreme weather events.
