The government is dedicated to addressing the power situation in Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar, according to the minister.
On Thursday, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal presided over the third high-level meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee established to formulate a lasting resolution to the persistent water and power shortages in Gwadar district, and assessed the progress of current and proposed power projects in both Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar.
Ahsan Iqbal stated at the conference that the government is dedicated to addressing the persistent electricity shortages impacting people in GB and Gwadar, emphasising that a continuous power supply is essential for economic activity, service delivery, and long-term development in these areas.
He underscored that the Prime Minister had mandated that energy projects essential to GB’s needs be prioritised and completed within the designated timescales.
“The residents of Gilgit-Baltistan must receive sufficient and dependable electricity, and we are implementing all requisite measures to guarantee this,” he stated.
An action plan for the expedited execution of energy projects in Gilgit-Baltistan has been sanctioned in accordance with the Prime Minister’s directions. This proposal anticipates that GB will receive a 100 MW increase in its electricity generation capacity by June 2026.
The 100 MWp Distributed Photovoltaic (DPV) Solar Project is presently being developed at several locations in Gilgit-Baltistan. The project has an 18 MW rooftop solar element and an 82 MW utility-scale element, with an anticipated total expenditure of Rs 24 billion.
The Planning Minister emphasised that the prompt implementation of the solarisation initiative is crucial for improving energy access and diminishing reliance on expensive and environmentally detrimental generation alternatives.
He instructed the relevant departments to guarantee that the necessary budgetary amounts for commencing the GB solarisation projects were obtained promptly.
The committee assessed the progress of the Solarisation of Pumping Stations and Desalination Power Plants in Gwadar, a project estimated at Rs 1.9 billion.
The project seeks to diminish operational expenses and enhance the efficiency of the port city’s water supply infrastructure.