1100 schools and 3050 mosques in KP’s merged tribal districts to go solar

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to start working on various solar energy projects to resolve the electricity issues in the consolidated tribal districts, some of which have been completed prosperously. 

At the same time, 900 mosques and places of worship in the consolidated tribal districts have been shifted to solar energy where 1.73 MW of electricity is being produced daily and a significant amount of money almost millions of rupees is reserved every month. 

Moreover, during the current year in the Khyber district, 1100 schools and 3050 mosques will be transitioned to solar energy however business centers will be connected with solar mini-grids too. And this initiative of transitioning to solar energy will be beneficial, especially in terms of minimizing climate change by reducing greenhouse effect gases. 

All promises will be accomplished and honored by residents of tribal consolidated zone masses. These views were expressed by Haji Iqbal Afridi, a member of the National Assembly elected from the tribal district of Khyber, while particularly engaging in the meeting regarding the development of the ongoing projects of solar energy utilization in the district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the supervision of PEDO, which is the sub-division of Energy & Power Department KP. 

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In this case, a crucial meeting took place with the designated focal persons of representatives of all elected national and provincial assemblies of Khyber district under the guidance of Secretary E&P Nisar Ahmad Khan. The meeting was also joined by Chief Executive PEDO Engineer Riaz Ahmed Jan, Chief Planning Officer Energy Department Dr. Mohammad Kashif Khan, Project Director of Solar Energy Engineer Asfand Yar Khan, and spokesperson of NRTC Aamir Afridi. 

Additionally, while presenting in the meeting, PD Engr Asfand Yar Khan informed that 3 major solar energy projects are taking place in the Khyber district, which include the developments and installation of mini-grids in Bara bazaar, 1100 schools, and 3050 mosques. 

The transmission line work is nearing completion he added. He further said that the 3 solar energy projects in Khyber district are expected to be finished by the end of this year. 

During the meeting, an extensive discussion was conducted concerning the installation of solar systems and other issues as outlined in the proposed lists, including the identification of mosques and schools. 

How transitioning 1100 schools and 3050 mosques to solar energy will prove to be beneficial? 

Shifting 1100 schools and 3,050 mosques to solar energy will massively impact Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the following ways: 

• Like, if we talk about educational benefits, schools will have a reliable power supply, which will be beneficial in teaching and learning activities without an interruption of power, and this will lead to improved educational results and a better environment for learning will be created for students. 

•  Furthermore, it will create a massive impact on the environment, using solar energy will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and other conventional kinds of power sources, and it will reduce carbon emissions and also help reduce greenhouse gases, and ultimately a cleaner and healthier environment will be created. 

•  Furthermore, it will reduce electricity costs we are often seeing that the electricity costs in Pakistan have been raised so much, that by using solar energy the government’s savings can be redirected to other useful services or infrastructure improvements. 

•  By harnessing solar energy, the area in which these initiatives are taking place will be energy independent and the province will reduce its over-dependence on conventional kind of power sources, and will help tackle the energy cost.  

• Furthermore, this solar energy will pave the path for sustainable development and support long-term ecological balance.