KARACHI: Sindh government’s solar home system project will be inaugurated in 10 districts of the province next month.
While chairing a meeting on Saturday Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said under the solar home system project, solar panels will be installed at houses in 10 districts of the province with a cost of four billion rupees.
The meeting was attended by provincial Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and other concerned officials held in CM House. “The project is launched in collaboration with the World Bank,” Murad Ali Shah informed.
Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh in his briefing to the chief minister said that the project being initiated at Khairpur, Sanghar, Badin, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Sujawal, Tharparkar and Umarkot districts. Under the plan solar-power systems will be provided to 20,000 houses in each district of the province, the energy minister said.
“The Sindh government will provide 50 pct cost of the system while remaining 50 pct will be paid by the household,” the minister said. “The project will be started immediately in Sanghar and Khairpur districts,” the energy minister said.
Earlier, Pakistan had invited Chinese companies to take advantage of incentives offered by the government for investment and set up solar panels and lithium battery manufacturing units in the country.
The offer was made by Minister for Science and Technology, at a meeting with the CEO of MERA PC Solutions in Beijing. The Minister said Pakistan has huge potential in solar and lithium battery manufacturing and there are great opportunities for exports to Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, and Afghanistan.
He said the government would provide all facilities including land, technical support and human resource besides joint venture opportunities to Chinese companies.
The Minister for Science and Technology said Chinese companies should diversify manufacturing in Pakistan as the government wants to enhance production and exports.
The CEO of MERA PC Solutions said his company would ensure transfer of technology to Pakistan and help increase local manufacturing and enhancing exports.