Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif recommended on Wednesday that the country’s solarisation project be implemented as soon as possible by removing all restrictions on the import of solar panels and other parts.
According to the prime minister, a growing country like Pakistan cannot afford to generate power by importing expensive fuels.
The prime minister shared these views while chairing a high-level meeting to monitor progress on the countrywide solarization project, according to a press statement from the PM Office Media Wing.
The gathering was informed that tenders had been issued for 17 government buildings, for which bids had been received and technical examinations were being conducted today.
The prime minister highlighted that low-cost solar power generation will provide consumers with inexpensive power, while also saving valuable foreign reserves spent on the import of expensive fuels.
He also commanded that solar panels be imported in stages and that the solarization of government buildings be completed as soon as possible.
It was also informed that the 1200MW Layyah and 600MW Jhang power projects were nearing completion. The process for installing solar on 11kv feeders will begin after NEPRA approved the benchmark pricing, it was said.
Furthermore, on April 20, tenders for 50 additional government buildings would be launched.
The gathering was also informed that a tender for the 600MW Kot Addu power project had been released, with a large number of international and domestic enterprises expressing strong interest.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Industries and Production Syed Murtaza Mahmood, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadiq Malik, PM’s Advisor Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Special Assistants Jahanzaib Khan and Tariq Bajwa, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
