Govt approves use of confiscated solar panels to address energy shortages in Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar

The government has approved a plan to repurpose confiscated solar panels for public power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Gwadar. The panels, previously seized and left idle at Karachi Port, will now be redirected to meet national energy needs while supporting Pakistan’s shift toward sustainable energy solutions, Business Recorder reported. 

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed an immediate assessment of the panels’ quantity and condition, while halting further solar panel auctions at Karachi Port. 

The National Logistics Cell (NLC) will manage the transportation logistics, and key energy bodies, including the Power Division, PPIB, and PPMC, along with GB authorities, will evaluate the panels’ technical viability.

The initiative will deploy 100 MW of solar capacity in Gilgit-Baltistan, with distributed solar photovoltaic projects planned for remote areas. 

Additionally, the remaining panels will be used to solarise water supply schemes in Gwadar, where power instability has disrupted port and industrial operations.

To oversee the 100 MW solar project in GB, the Ministry of Planning has formed a Steering Committee headed by the Federal Minister for Power. The committee will be responsible for monitoring project milestones, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness, and coordinating with federal ministries, GB authorities, and donor agencies.

This initiative follows mounting complaints from Gwadar’s industrial stakeholders, particularly from Yu Bo, Chairman of China Overseas Ports Holding Company, who highlighted ongoing power outages disrupting operations in the Gwadar Free Zone. 

In response, Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry confirmed that a dedicated solar power plant would be established for the port and Free Zone to provide stable, independent electricity.