ISLAMABAD, March 13 (Alliance News): Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on the conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power, where concerns were raised over the slow implementation of the project.
The meeting, attended by the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Minister for Power, and senior officials, reviewed the progress of the federal initiative aimed at reducing energy costs for farmers in the province.
It was revealed that the Federal Government had sanctioned PKR 14 billion for the project on February 4, 2025, out of which PKR 12.4 billion had been disbursed by the Balochistan government.
According to QESCO’s Daily Situation Report, the disconnection of 4,539 tube wells and retrieval of 2,626 transformers and 2,378 poles resulted in a 67.4 MW load reduction.
The meeting was further apprised that Balochistan has 27,437 subsidized and 10,263 illegal agricultural tube wells, while QESCO operates 50 agricultural-dominated feeders with total pending receivables of PKR 564 billion.
Under the initiative, PKR 2 million compensation per disconnected tube well will be provided through a 70:30 cost-sharing arrangement between the Federal and Balochistan governments.
Expressing concern over delays, Ishaq Dar directed authorities to expedite implementation and ensure third-party verification of the solarization process.
