Sindh govt says free power plan finalized

From Zeeshan Mirza

KARACHI: Provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah on Thursday said that a plan has been prepared to provide free electricity to consumers of up to 100 units.
Talking to media, Sindh’s energy minister said that the government will provide 100 free power units to consumers from solar parks and mini grid stations. He said the Government of Sindh has allocated amount for solar energy and mini grid in the budget. “The government initially allocating five billion rupees for solar energy in the budget,” minister said. “We are also introducing a scheme in budget to provide solar panels on an extremely concessional price,” energy minister said. “Poor and middle-class people will be provided two lac solar panels,” he said. “The government will pay 80 percent of solar panel’s price, while 20 percent will be taken from people,” Nasir Shah said. “There are five lac houses in Sindh with no power supply,” he further said. “Solar parks and mini grid stations will be installed in Karachi and other parts of Sindh,” energy minister added. Earlier, Minister of Energy and Development & Planning Sindh Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the government want to provide free electricity to the consumers using up to 300 units per month, and for this purpose four solar parks are being built.
These solar parks are being constructed in Karachi and Jamshoro. The National Grid will be supplied with electricity from the solar parks and subsidy will be given to consumers who consume up to 100 units of electricity in the first phase.