PESHAWAR: Engineer Naeem Khan, the Chief Executive Officer of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), emphasized the invaluable natural gift of solar energy resources in the province, stating that they contribute to an annual saving of approximately Rs. 840 million in electricity bills. Speaking at the inaugural two-day solar energy exhibition in Peshawar, he shared that ongoing efforts on nine solar energy projects across the province, including tribal merged districts, are crucial for addressing the country’s energy crisis.
During the exhibition, attended by media representatives and Secretary Energy and Power Nisar Ahmad Khan, Engr. Naeem Khan highlighted the transformation of key government institutions, including the Civil Secretariat and Chief Minister’s House, into solar-powered facilities. He noted that 8,000 schools, 187 Basic Health Units (BHUs), and 4,000 mosques have already been solarized. Additionally, 100 villages, including 300 mosques, in the merged districts have successfully transitioned to solar energy, with ongoing efforts for solarization in schools and places of worship in both merged and settled districts.
Engr. Naeem Khan underscored the completion of 312 mini-micro hydropower projects in phase one in backward districts, with an additional 291 projects underway in phase two. The public’s keen interest in the solar exhibition was evident, with attendees praising the positive strides taken for the province’s development through the production of solar electricity from renewable energy sources.
