The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved on Saturday a project of the photovoltaic energy plant of 100 megawatts for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the initiative.
During his recent visit to GB earlier this week, the Prime Minister presented a RS4 billion relief package for the region affected by floods, together with the plans for the Solar Energy project and the establishment of a Danish school for disadvantaged children.
After ECNEC’s green light, formal work in the energy project will immediately begin. The Central Development Work Party (CDWP) had already cleared the plan before ECNEC approval.
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The Solar Project will be implemented in multiple districts, including Astore, Darel, Tangir, Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Ishkoman, Nagar, Rondu, Skardu and Shigar.
The implementation will take place in three phases. In the first phase, Skardu will receive 18,958 megawatts of electricity. The second phase will provide 6.005MW to Hunza, 28.013MW to Gilgit and 13.126MW to Diamer. The remaining districts will obtain 16,096mw in the final phase.
In addition, the project will deliver 18,162 megawatts of solar energy outside the network to hospitals and government offices in the region, relieving the load of the existing infrastructure.
With an estimated total cost of RS24,957 billion, the solar energy initiative is expected to be completed within three years. The authorities say that the project will help close the energy gap in the remote region of the north and support essential public services.
