Discrimination in development: Solar panels for only upscale areas

SUKKUR: The solar panel streetlights which were supposed to be installed all over Larkana city have only been put up in upscale areas. The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) government, in the last 150 days of its tenure, approved a project to install 317 solar panel street lights in Larkana city and 150 lights each in Naudero and Ratodero talukas. The installations are being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs95 million through a private contractor. Larkana deputy commissioner and project in charge, Asadullah Abro, justified the placement by saying that 317 solar panels are insufficient for Larkana city. “Our priority is to install these lights in the areas where CCTV cameras are installed already.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2013.