Shehbaz directs swift execution of Gilgit-Baltistan solar project as 82MW plan moves to ECNEC

The federal government's flagship 100-megawatt solar energy programme for Gilgit-Baltistan moved a step closer to implementation after the project's main utility-scale component was submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval, officials informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

Chairing a progress review meeting, the prime minister was briefed that the PC-1 for the 82MW utility-scale solar project has formally been placed before ECNEC. Once completed, the facility is expected to benefit around 1.3 million residents by substantially reducing electricity load shedding across Gilgit-Baltistan.

Officials also outlined plans for the second phase of the initiative, under which an 18MW rooftop solar system integrated with battery storage will be installed on 499 government buildings. The installations are targeted for completion by December and are expected to improve the reliability of public services while supporting the region's transition towards greater energy self-sufficiency.

Reviewing the project's progress, Shehbaz said expanding solar generation remains central to the government's efforts to provide clean, affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity. He described the 100MW initiative as a federal government's gift to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and instructed the Power Division to ensure the project is completed without delay.

The prime minister also stressed that the procurement process must remain fully transparent, directing authorities to release payments only after work has been independently verified through third-party validation.

Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The solar initiative traces back to September 2025, when Shehbaz approved a plan to deploy confiscated solar panels for public-sector electricity projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, including the development of 100MW of distributed solar photovoltaic capacity at remote locations across the region.