LAHORE - The Punjab government is planning to switch over government offices, educational institutions and street lights to solar energy system. In this regard, Punjab Government is being switched Bahawalpur University over to grid-less energy system.
These views were expressed by MNA Mohammad Pervez Malik at a two-day seminar on solar energy jointly conducted by Tuwairqi Steel Mills Limited Engineering – a Saudi Arabian-funded entity and world reknowned SolarWorld of Germany here at a local hotel on Monday.
Malik Pervez said that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif gives more emphasis to the generation of more energy so that wheel of province’s economy could be kept rolling at pace.
He claimed that there is no shortage of electricity and resources in the country but unfortunately mismanagement has made smooth supply of electricity a haunt for consumers.
Centre for Green Economy Executive Director Dr Asif Qayyum Qureshi said that incumbent govt is trying to enhance GDP which has been stalled at 3pc in last four years. But how is it possible to enhance it without the improvement in electricity generation, he asked.
While giving presentation he said that our country has 340,000MW wind energy potential but unfortunately we could achieve only 6MW through this means. Likewise, he claimed that as Sun always shine throughout the year hence country has 2,900,000MW potential but so far we could electrified only 3,000 homes through solar energy system across the country.
However, he said that by Biomass system we can achieve 2,300MW and so far we have achieved 27MW, he added.
SolarWorld Head of Engineering and Technical Support Kai Klingenhagen said that even developing countries in the region are far ahead from Pakistan in this regard. Bangladesh government with the financial assistance of World Bank has electrified over one million homes through solar energy system while another one million homes are being provided electricity through this off-grid system.