Pakistan parliament goes green

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Web Desk
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Pakistan parliament goes green

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the solar power plant at the Parliament House in Islamabad, making it the first parliament in the world to go green.

The prime minister was accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani at the inauguration.

With the formal inauguration of the 1.8 megawatt plant, the entire electricity system of the Parliament House has now been completely shifted to solar power, the first and only such parliament in the world.

Speaking at the occasion, PM Sharif vowed that 2018 would be the year that marks the end of energy crisis in Pakistan. He said that he was personally monitoring power projects, some of which would be completed this year while the rest would be completed the next year.

He vowed to end Pakistan’s energy crisis before the end of his term.

The prime minister said that the Parliament’s solar plant would also provide electricity to the national grid. He said that the country’s public and private sector should follow such positive steps.

Last year, the Chinese government had provided a grant to set up the solar power system as an alternative source of energy to meet electricity needs of the Parliament House. The solar panels installed on the roof of the Parliament House are estimated to help save about Rs28 million worth annual energy bills. 

The project was completed in seven months at a cost of Rs280.61 million.