Sindh minister asks federal govt to give packages to public to buy solar panels

Reacting to the proposal of imposing a tax on solar panels, Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday rejected the suggestion, stating that some elements were suggesting to the federal government to impose a tax on solar panels.

“Electricity in the country is not only very expensive but also not accessible to many areas,” said the minister in a statement.

He said the people had already been burdened with high prices, especially with the electricity bills causing severe distress. Loadshedding, especially in Sindh, had put people in extreme difficulties throughout the country, he remarked.

Shah said that in such circumstances if people were light their homes by installing solar panels, they should be supported. If a tax was imposed on solar panels, the poor people would be further burdened with more inflation, he warned. Shah requested that the prime minister not impose a tax on solar panels and also asked the federal government to provide small and large packages to the public for buying solar panels.

He further said that the Sindh government wants to establish a solar park to produce cheap electricity in the province to control the electricity crisis.

He said that they wanted the federal government to not only reduce electricity prices in extreme heat but also provide packages for purchasing solar panels.

Thar Coal

A total of 1,320 megawatts (MW) of electricity will be added to the national grid after the completion of the first phase of the Thar Coal Block One project, said the Sindh energy minister on Saturday as he met a delegation of the Shanghai Power.

He said the Thar Coal Block One power generation project would play an important role in dealing with power-related challenges in the country.

Shanghai Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Meng Donghai, Sindh Energy Secretary Kazim Jatoi and others participated in the meeting.

The energy minister assured the delegation of immediate removal of all obstacles in the project and full cooperation.

He said the Sindh government would provide all possible cooperation regarding the project so that it could be completed as soon as possible.

The energy minister directed the delegation to take special care of the local people in the project and provide them with all possible facilities. He added that the Thar Coal project was very important for the whole country.

Shah said that according to the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government was focusing on public welfare projects.