ISLAMABAD: The government is set to announce a comprehensive National Solar Policy on August 1 to provide cheap and environmental-friendly electricity to the general public. The decision was taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he chaired a high-level meeting of the Energy Task Force aimed at addressing the problems of energy shortage in the country.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Energy Engineer Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Mussadik Malik, and the officials concerned. The chief secretaries of four provinces joined the meeting through a video link.
I was briefed about the key solar energy initiatives earlier today. Coalition govt will soon introduce the country’s first comprehensive solar policy after approval of the CCI. Solar energy will drastically cut fuel imports, bring down cost of electricity & provide clean energy.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 7, 2022
The prime minister said the government was committed to making the country self-reliant in energy generation.
The implementation of the National Solar Policy will be subject to approval by the Council of Common Interests.
PM Sharif directed the task force to get feedback from the provinces on the draft solar policy and stressed ensuring unanimity of views at the provincial level on the projects of alternative energy generation.
Also, it was decided to shift the Prime Minister’s Office and the PM House to solar energy within one month.
He mentioned that solar power was a clean and green way of electricity generation and said the solar projects would mitigate the issues such as distribution losses, power theft, and circular debt.
PM Sharif said affordable solar power would reduce the burden of inflation on the common man.
The meeting was informed that a proposal for converting the fuel-based powerhouses and the 2,000 feeders of 11 KV to solar generation was on the cards.
