Islamabad: The federal government will install rooftop solar systems with battery storage on 499 government buildings in Gilgit-Baltistan by December this year as part of a broader 100-megawatt (MW) solar energy initiative aimed at reducing power outages in the region.
The update was shared during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday to review electricity provision in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials briefed the prime minister that the rooftop component of the project will add 18MW of solar capacity through installations on government buildings, supported by battery storage systems to improve reliability.
The remaining 82MW utility-scale solar project has been submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval through its PC-I document.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the promotion of solar energy was a key part of Pakistan’s strategy to achieve clean, affordable and sustainable power. He described the 100MW initiative as a federal government gift for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The prime minister directed the Power Division to ensure timely completion of the project and maintain full transparency in the procurement process. He also instructed that payments be made only after third-party validation.
According to officials, the 82MW utility-scale project is expected to benefit around 1.3 million people. Once completed, the overall 100MW solar initiative is expected to improve the quality of electricity services in Gilgit-Baltistan and help reduce load-shedding across the region.
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