Alternative energy: 15,000 schools to go solar

Punjab govt kicks off program that will be expanded phase-wise

LAHORE: With an aim to shift all public schools to solar energy, the Punjab government will install solar panels at 15,000 school buildings across in the province in the first phase. Moreover, 700 health centres and the University of Bahawalpur will also be converted to solar energy.

On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the progress on programmes to spread the use of solar energy with the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank and the AFD Bank of France. The chief minister also reviewed progress on the 100MW solar power generation agreement signed with Turkish company Zorlu Energi.



Under per the ADB and AFD Bank programmes, the Punjab government has committed to shifting public schools and basic health centres in the province to solar energy. The programme will be expanded in a phased manner.

“We need to take initiatives to increase the productivity of our energy department on priority basis,” Shehbaz said while calling for the formation of a steering committee. “A lot of time has already been wasted. We need to speed up the solar energy programme,” a statement quoted the CM as saying.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2017.