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PCSIR to roll out electric bikes, wheelchairs soon

National Assembly panel calls for promoting renewable energy sector

APP November 22, 2019

National Assembly panel calls for promoting renewable energy sector. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) is set to roll out electric motorcycles and wheelchairs in the near future after introducing a solar-power rickshaw, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology was informed on Friday.

The committee held a meeting at the PCSIR under the chairmanship of its Chairman Sajid Mehdi, the members were briefed on the working and performance of the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET).

The director general of the PCSIR informed the committee that at present the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix was up to 6%, which was higher than the share of nuclear energy, adding that this share was expected to go up to 30% by 2030.

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The PCSIR has introduced a solar power rickshaw with a running timing of three hours and covering up to 70 kilometres distance, he said. The PCSIR is also going to introduce the electric motor cycles and wheelchairs in the near future, he added.

The committee was informed that the PCSIR had proposed the establishment of an internationally-accredited laboratory in Islamabad in collaboration with Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority to regulate the production of quality solar panels.
The meeting was attended by Engineer Usman Khan Tarakai, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Sobia Kamal Khan and Zaib Jaffar, besides the senior officers from the Ministry of Science and Technology and director general of the PCSIR.

The committee members recommended that renewable energy sector should be promoted in the country to generate electricity as other sources such as the construction of dams, were too high and time consuming.

The committee directed the Science and Technology Ministry of to fill up the vacant posts of the PCSIR. The members also decided to visit the PCSIR regularly to examine the ongoing renewable energy projects.