Govt to provide loans on easy installments to small consumers for 5KV solar plants: Dastgir
The minister says 7,000MW to be added to national grid before next summer

Islamabad Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir on Monday said around 7,000 MW electricity would be added to the national grid before next summer season, which would help overpower load-shedding in the country.
About 4,623 MW electricity would be added to the system through those projects, which were launched by the last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in 2018, and the rest through net metering and solar projects, he said addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting.
Flanked by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik, Advisor to the PM on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Khurram said the government was framing a comprehensive solar energy policy under which not only large scale plants would be set up but also all the government departments would be converted to the solar energy.
Loans on easy installments would be provided to small consumers for installing 5KV solar plants, he added.
The minister said a detailed briefing would be given to the prime minister about the policy, which would be announced in next few weeks.
Sharing a good news, he said 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project had started its full operation. Its foundation was jointly laid by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015.
The Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, he added, had already been supplying 969 MW electricity to the national grid since April 2018.
He said the inauguration of 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project was scheduled on June 29, but it was deferred by the prime minister as per the directives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Khurram said the cabinet was informed that water inflow in Tarbela Dam had significantly improved, which would improve power generation, while the K-2 nuclear plant would also start supplying 1,100 MW to the system before Eid-ul-Azha after completion of its refueling.
He said the coalition government was working day and night to provide maximum relief to the masses. The entire leadership was united for strengthening the national economy and democracy, he added.
To a question, the minister said tariff would not be increased for consumers using up to 200 units per month.

Gold prices see massive surge in Pakistan
- an hour ago

Flooding: 23 flights canceled due to bad weather
- 2 hours ago

Appeal rejected for further physical remand of Aleema Khan’s son
- an hour ago

645 prisoners in 43 Punjab jails suffering from AIDS
- 5 hours ago

Sikh community pays tribute to Field Marshal for relief operations in flood-hit Kartarpur
- 2 hours ago

Ducky Bhai approaches Sessions Court against repeated remands
- 42 minutes ago

Trump angry with Modi's behavior in Indo-Pak war, Pakistan becomes favorite country
- 4 hours ago

Chenab, Ravi torrents may cause more trouble: DG PDMA warns
- 3 hours ago

WhatsApp fixes bug that secretly hacks data from Apple devices
- 24 minutes ago

Pakistan permitted to export fish to US
- 4 hours ago

11 died as rains wreak havoc in occupied Kashmir
- 2 hours ago

9th spell of monsoon: Heavy rain causes flooding in drains
- 3 hours ago