Progress Review Meeting on Solarization of Agricultural Tube Wells in Balochistan Held under the Chairmanship of Deputy PM Ishaq Dar

Quetta:A progress review meeting on the project for the solarization of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar. The meeting was attended virtually by Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Sardar Fazal Baloch. The project is a key part of the federal government’s strategy to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce energy costs in the province.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the importance of Balochistan for the federal government and highlighted that the timely completion of this project has been directly instructed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He reassured all stakeholders of the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the solarization initiative.

**Chief Minister’s Comments**

Chief Minister Mir Sardar Fazal Baloch expressed his gratitude for the federal government’s cooperation in this vital project. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for their support and efforts to implement this transformative scheme. He confirmed that the process of transferring agricultural tube wells to solar power is ongoing and that once solarization is complete, the transformers of the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) are being disconnected.

He added that the provincial government is ensuring that once tube wells are switched to solar energy, no QESCO transformers will be reinstalled. To enforce this, the Balochistan government plans to introduce legislation through the provincial assembly, allowing legal action against landowners who violate the policy.

**Collaboration from Farmers**

The Chief Minister also praised the cooperation of the Landowners’ Action Committee, which has been actively assisting the provincial government. He noted that farmers are voluntarily handing over the transformers they have installed to QESCO, which is a positive step for the province’s energy sector.

“This initiative will save Balochistan up to 150 megawatts of electricity,” said the Chief Minister, underlining the significant impact on both the agricultural and energy sectors. He assured that the payment process to the farmers will be entirely transparent, with third-party validation. An advertisement for third-party validation will be issued soon.

**Key Benefits of the Project**

The Chief Minister emphasized that the solarization of agricultural tube wells would mark a significant step in ushering in an agricultural revolution in Balochistan. By reducing reliance on conventional electricity, the project will lower operational costs for farmers and contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in the province.

**Participants of the Meeting**

The meeting was attended by a range of key officials, including Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, Chairperson of the QESCO Board Ms. Roshan Khurshid Brohi, Chief Secretary of Balochistan, Federal Secretary of Energy, Provincial Secretary of Energy, and CEO of QESCO, along with other senior federal and provincial officials.

This solarization project is expected to provide a significant boost to Balochistan’s agricultural sector and bring long-term benefits to the local economy, ensuring a more sustainable and reliable energy future for the province’s farmers.