The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched its flagship project 'Solarization of Houses' aimed at providing free and subsidized solar energy solutions to households across the province.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur formally inaugurated the initiative at a special ceremony held at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar on Thursday.
The event was attended by provincial cabinet members, members of the provincial assembly, government officials, and media representatives.
Under the first phase of the project, 32,500 households will receive free solar units, including solar panels, batteries, fans, lights, and other equipment.
The selection process was conducted through electronic balloting following an overwhelming response of over 2.5 million online applications.
Overall, the project aims to provide solar systems to 130,000 households, including 30,000 homes in the merged districts.
Of these, 65,000 households will receive solar units free of cost, while another 65,000 households will have the option to purchase solar systems at half the price with easy installment plans.
The total estimated cost of the project is Rs20 billion, and it will be implemented in two phases - 65,000 households in the first phase and the remaining 65,000 in the second.
Speaking at the ceremony, the chief minister emphasized that the initiative was launched to tackle the country's electricity crisis and prolonged load shedding, offering much-needed relief to underprivileged communities.
"In line with the vision of our founding chairman, we are committed to providing relief and essential services to the general public," he remarked, adding that a welfare state must ensure access to basic necessities for its most deserving citizens.
He remarked that solar units are being distributed through a transparent electronic balloting system, prioritizing widows, transgender individuals, and other vulnerable groups. He added that each district is allocated its share based on population proportion, ensuring fair distribution across the province.
He also emphasized that the selection process remains free from political or external influence, ensuring transparency and merit-based allocation.
"With over 2.5 million applications, this overwhelming response reflects public trust in our system, and we thank the people for their confidence in us," Gandapur stated, adding that the K-P government is leading in governance and will continue to do so in future as well.
He concluded by saying that the initiative is meant not only to provide uninterrupted electricity to deserving households but also to reduce burden on the national power grid.
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