Promoting clean, affordable energy through solar power key to national energy policy, says PM Shehbaz

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored that expanding the use of solar energy is a central pillar of Pakistan’s strategy to provide clean, economical and environmentally sustainable power across the country.

While presiding over a review meeting in Islamabad on the 100-megawatt solar energy project for Gilgit-Baltistan, the prime minister said the initiative reflects the federal government’s commitment to improving the lives of the region’s residents, describing it as a valuable gift for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

PM Shehbaz directed the Power Division to take all necessary steps to ensure the project is completed within the scheduled timeline.

Stressing accountability, he directed officials to maintain complete transparency during the procurement process and ordered that no payments be released without verification by an independent third party.

The meeting was briefed on the progress made so far, stating that rooftop solar systems with battery storage, having a combined capacity of 18 megawatts, will be installed on 499 government buildings by December this year.

The meeting was also informed that the Planning Commission's PC-I for the 82-megawatt utility-scale solar project has already been submitted to Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

As per the officials the project will benefit nearly 1.3 million people across Gilgit-Baltistan.