- 7,000 MW of electricity will be added to the national grid before the next summer in Pakistan.
- Such projects would add approximately 4,623 MW of power to the system.
- Small users would be given loans to install 5KV solar plants in affordable instalments.
Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Minister of Power, stated that roughly 7,000 MW of electricity would be added to the national grid before the next summer season, which would assist the country overcome load-shedding.
Approximately 4,623 MW of power would be added to the system through such projects, which were begun by the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz administration in 2018, with the remainder coming from net metering and solar projects, he said following the cabinet meeting.
Khurram, who was flanked by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, said the government was developing a comprehensive solar energy policy that would see not only large-scale plants built but also all government departments converted to solar energy.
He added that small users would be given loans to install 5KV solar plants in affordable instalments. The minister stated that the prime minister would be given a thorough briefing on the policy, which would be presented in the coming weeks. He further announced that the 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project had begun full operation. In 2015, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping laid the groundwork for it.
He stated that the 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project was supposed to be inaugurated on June 29, but the prime minister postponed it due to Election Commission of Pakistan guidelines (ECP).
Khurram stated that the cabinet was informed that water inflow in Tarbela Dam had greatly improved, which would boost power generation. Once its refuelling was completed, the K-2 nuclear facility would also begin contributing 1,100 MW to the system before Eid-ul-Azha. He stated that the coalition government was working around the clock to bring the utmost help to the people. He went on to say that the entire leadership was working together to strengthen the national economy and democracy.