Standing Committee on S&T briefed on renewable energy

ISLAMABAD: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology was held in Islamabad under the Chairmanship of MNA Sajid Mehdi today.

The DG PCSIR Muhammad Aleem Ahmed advised the Committee on the working and performance of the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET). He informed that at present the share of renewable energy in the energy sector is up to 6%, which is even higher than the share of nuclear energy and up to 30% is expected to grow by 30% till 2030.

The DG further briefed the Committee that there is zero tax on solar panels. The manufacturing of sub-standard solar panels especially from Afghanistan has minimized the quality. Due to this PCSIR has proposed the authorities of an internationally accredited laboratory in Islamabad in collaboration with PSQCA (Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority) to regulate the production of these sub-standard solar panels.

The PCSIR has introduced a solar power Rikshaw with a running timing of 03 hours and covering up to 70 kilometers distance. PCSIR is also going to introduce electric motorcycles and wheelchairs in the near future.

National Assembly’s Standing Committee recommended that the renewable energy sector should be flourished as the construction of Dams is too expensive and time taking process. The Committee also decided to visit PCSIR to practically examine the ongoing renewable energy projects.