Govt to expedite conversion of tube wells on solar energy

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has pledged to accelerate the transition of agricultural tube wells to solar energy in Balochistan. He made this commitment during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad to address issues in the agriculture and electricity sectors affecting the well-being of Balochistan's residents.

Chairing the meeting, Minister Iqbal assured that all necessary resources would be utilized to ensure the timely completion of federal development projects in Balochistan. Balochistan Chief Minister Safraz Bugti, who also participated in the meeting, highlighted the severe challenges faced by farmers due to electricity shortages in the province.

Emphasizing the importance of adopting alternative energy sources to ensure a reliable electricity supply, Chief Minister Bugti proposed the use of solar energy for agriculture, including solar tube wells. He reiterated the provincial government's commitment to addressing obstacles encountered by farmers and pledged to combat electricity theft in collaboration with relevant authorities.

Minister Iqbal directed the Power Division and the Balochistan Government to devise a roadmap and strategy for transitioning underground tube wells to solar energy and to implement it expeditiously. Additionally, he instructed officials to launch an awareness campaign to educate the public about the consequences of electricity theft.

Highlighting the detrimental effects of electricity theft and non-payment of bills on load shedding, Minister Iqbal urged relevant departments to take stringent action against individuals engaged in such illegal activities.