Peshawar (Khyber Mail): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has unveiled an ambitious plan to solarize all public sector buildings, including hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, prisons, police stations, and other government offices. This initiative also encompasses the solarization of tube wells and street lights, aiming to ensure the availability of uninterrupted electricity to public offices at a reduced cost.
In a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur chaired the review session to assess the progress made in launching the initiative. The meeting, attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister for Finance Muzammil Aslam and other committee members, focused on the power requirements for government buildings and the proposed action plan for the implementation of the solarization project.
The forum was informed that data collection regarding public sector offices and their energy needs is ongoing. Preliminary data indicates that approximately 13,000 units will require a solar system with a capacity of about 73 MW to produce 92 million units of solar electricity annually. The solarization project, estimated to cost Rs 10 billion, is expected to result in annual savings of around Rs 2 billion in electricity bills for the provincial government.
Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the need to finalize the project promptly and directed the committee to complete all necessary requirements for the project’s launch within a week. He also urged for the swift completion of the remaining tasks to implement the project.
Additionally, the Chief Minister directed the early launch of the project for solarizing Masajid and madaris across the province. Under this initiative, 7,000 Masajid and 3,000 madaris would be converted to solar energy, further expanding the reach of the solarization efforts.
The KP government’s commitment to solarizing public offices and institutions is a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions and fiscal savings, contributing to the province’s overall development and energy independence.