Balochistan hospitals to be solarised soon, says CM

Bizenjo orders economic team to include project in budget

QUETTA:

In an unprecedented move probably prompted by the sales tax exemption proposed in the 2022-23 Budget, the Balochistan government has decided to provide solar power supply to all government-run hospitals across the country’s largest province.

This decision was made at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Tuesday.

Solar supply projects would be included in the fast approaching budget for the financial year 2022-23. Last week, the federal government had announced to exempt sales tax on import as well as local supply of solar panels.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Suleman Mufti, Finance Secretary Hafiz Abdul Basit and other officials participated in the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, the provincial chief executive stated that solar energy projects for hospitals would ensure an uninterrupted power supply to hospitals.

“Patients would not suffer as a result of unannounced load-shedding,” Bizenjo said.

Balochistan government has announced it will present the budget for the financial year 2022-23 on June 17.

Acting Balochistan Governor Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, who is also the speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, has convened the session of the provincial assembly on June 17 in this regard.

The ACS development and finance secretary briefed the CM about the forthcoming budget and the development projects. They also informed the participants of the meeting about jail reforms and the overall Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the next fiscal year.

Sources within the finance department said the provincial government has almost finalised all the arrangements for the budget. Officials of the planning and development (P&D) department and finance department have been making hectic efforts regarding the preparation of the budget.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2022.