Provincial Minister for Energy Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik inaugurated a 2.5 MW solar power plant at Baghdad ul Jadeed Campus of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur. In which, power supply from a solar plant started. The project’s total cost, to be completed by the Punjab Energy Department. At the price of Rs 300 million.
Vice-Chancellor Engr. Prof. Dr Athar Mahboob, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Naveed Akhtar, Muhammad Afzal Member Provincial Assembly, and others members of the assembly were present on occasion. Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik appreciated accompanying parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, and faculty who completed the project.
He said that the whole world had been moving towards solar energy, but they had installed power plants recently, thermal plants and other plants which had produced expensive electricity. He said we had shifted 11000 primary schools to renewable energy, and another 4500 schools would be completed this March.
About 2400 primary health centres would also be completed in this financial year. Fourteen district hospitals had been shifted to solar energy. In addition, police stations, shelter homes, commissioner offices, colleges, universities and public connections would be transferred. He said that Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park initiated a project to generate 100 MW more power in the solar park, providing power to Orange Train and other departments. Engr. Prof. Dr Athar Mahboob, Vice-Chancellor, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, said that the energy they got under the Prime Minister’s Pakistan Program would save the university’s amount worth Rs 70 million. On occasion, the Provincial Minister said that this project was part of the Punjab government’s plan to connect Punjab’s universities and educational institutions with solar energy so that under the Green Pakistan Vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Punjab could provide environmentally friendly energy and save billions of rupees in foreign exchange.
Later, the Provincial Minister, accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, visited the development projects, including the College of Nursing, amphitheatre, faculty buildings under construction under public-private partnership at Rs 4 billion, new installation of College of Art and Design.
During his visit, the provincial minister also visited the Hakra Art Gallery and appreciated the works of art created by the students. He later addressed the teachers and students in the Main Auditorium. On this occasion, Project Director Arif Mansoor Qaisarani gave a detailed briefing on Solar Park.
