President Alvi urges production of solar panels

President says country needs to make optimum use of the resource

KARACHI: With Pakistan rapidly emerging as a major user of solar energy, there is a need to focus on curbing the cost of the safest source of energy by producing solar panels in the country, said President Dr Arif Alvi.

Addressing a ceremony on solar energy, he said Pakistan, the fifth largest market for solar energy, needed to make optimum use of the abundant resource.

He said the country was blessed with natural resources that could be diversified for the well-being of the masses and especially referred to water resources and coal deposits. “Importance of dams for water storage remains relevant but these can no longer be justified for energy production other than small run of the river units to generate power at community level,” he said.

Regarding coal deposits of the country being used for power generation, Alvi said even if the pollutant factors were removed, still its carbon footprints would persist.

He stressed that solar energy was the cleanest source and conscious efforts were required to address carbon footprint in Pakistan.

Referring to consumerism that has engulfed the world at large, he said Pakistan had also emerged as a consumer society and there was growing realisation to change the situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2019.

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