Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday on Tuesday ordered authorities on Tuesday to secure the end of the 100-Megawatt solar energy project in Gilgit-Baltist (GB) within one year, confirming the full financial obligation of the federal government.
The Prime Minister was chairman of a review meeting in Islamabad and said the project would be carried out on a priority basis for providing uninterrupted, low costs and environmentally sustainable electricity to the region, which often faces long -term power cuts.
The premiere said he would personally oversee the project’s progress, which he described as a crucial step towards ending energy shortages in GB. He also instructed that the infrastructure should be built to withstand the effects of climate change.
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He emphasized the urgent in the case and said, “Solarization offers the most practical solution to remote regions such as GB, where 18 to 20 hours of load time remains a routine challenge.”
PM Shehbaz also instructed electricity supply from both hydropower and sun sources to be strengthened to help residents tackle extreme weather conditions and power disorders.
To ensure effective implementation, Energy Minister Awais Leghari was appointed chairman of the management committee who monitored the project. During the briefing, the meeting was informed that six solar parks would be established 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 surveillance system is also being developed for battery security copy.
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Officials assured that the project would comply with international standards and that transparency would be secured throughout its construction.
The project had previously been announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz during his visit to GB, as the Executive Committee for the National Economic Council (ECNEC) also approved the project a few days later.
Separately, in a meeting with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman LT Gen Inam Haider Malik, the Prime Minister ordered the authority to improve coordination with provincial governments for effective reaction and rehabilitation efforts in the midst of recent rain and flooding.
He called for the rapid operationalization of GB Early Warning System in coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and emphasized the importance of timely warnings in vulnerable areas to reduce risks during extreme weather events.
