ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Railways is all set to start switching its entire stations’ power network, in-cluding major railway stations, offices, workshops, and factories, to solar systems in phases which would help the department save billions of rupees.
“The step is expected to save Rs1.8 billion in the first phase, later on, more stations, offices, and other facilities will be added in the subsequent phases,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told media.
Initially, in the first phase, he said, the Pakistan Railways wanted to switch around 99 formations, in-cluding major railway stations, nine divisional headquarters and other vital offices to solar power.
He said the PR was going to hire the services of the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) for the conversion of its network to a solar system.
The official said that the department had decided to shift the railway network to solar energy to mini-mise the economic burden.
On the other hand, due to the ongoing energy crisis and the surge in utility bills, the PR management has implemented a policy that prohibits its officers from using air-conditioners before 11am. –Agencies
