Lahore: Ten major universities in Punjab will switch to solar energy during the first phase of the project pertaining to the installation of alternative energy source in these institutes, a news source reported. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar revealed this information during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony; held between the Energy Department and the Punjab University (PU).
The agreement finalised pertained to the conversion of
energy source in the university to solar power. Following the implementation of
this initiative, PU will be included among the first 10 universities in the
country to complete the project.
Sarwar said that this project would help the government save PKR 256 million on an annual basis and a sum of PKR 6.41 billion during the coming 25 years. He expressed his hope that Qatar and other countries would provide support for this project. He revealed that the officials concerned would hold a meeting with representatives of private universities to resolve any matters pertaining to their sub-campuses.
The governor revealed that all universities in Punjab would have an independent electricity system, and private institutions would make the initial investments for this purpose. He said that this project would ensure the provision of inexpensive electricity to the universities. He added that the electricity stored would be added to the national grid.
He further stated that Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman
Buzdar had provided his approval to the conversion of public sector departments
to solar energy. The governor revealed that power generation through solar
would also help reduce oil import bills.
