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July 9, 2026![[Solar panels on homes and businesses in Karachi – Photo by Hexzain/ Shutterstock] Image Source: World Resources Institute.](https://digitalpakistan.pk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2-14.webp)
The federal government has submitted the PC-1 for the 82MW utility-scale solar component of the 100MW Gilgit-Baltistan Solar Project to ECNEC, aiming to expand clean energy access and reduce power shortages across the region.
The federal government has formally submitted the PC-1 for the 82MW utility-scale solar component of the 100MW Gilgit-Baltistan Solar Project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval, marking another step towards expanding renewable energy infrastructure in the region.
According to Business Recorder and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level review meeting on the project, where officials briefed him on its progress and implementation timeline.
During the meeting, the prime minister described solar energy as a vital part of Pakistan’s transition towards sustainable power generation and called for the project’s timely completion.
He termed the 100MW solar initiative a “gift from the federal government to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan” and directed the Power Division to ensure its “timely installation and completion.”
According to the briefing, the 82MW utility-scale solar project is expected to benefit approximately 1.3 million people while substantially reducing load shedding across Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials also informed the meeting that an additional 18MW rooftop solar system, equipped with battery storage, will be installed on 499 government buildings across the region by December 2026. The initiative aims to improve public service delivery while strengthening energy self-sufficiency.
The prime minister also stressed transparency throughout the project’s implementation, directing authorities to maintain “complete transparency in the procurement process” and ensure “all payments be made only after thorough third-party validation.”
The review meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior government officials.
The solar initiative builds on the federal government’s renewable energy strategy for Gilgit-Baltistan. In September 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a plan to utilise confiscated solar panels for public electricity projects, allocating 100MW for distributed solar photovoltaic systems across remote areas of the region.
The project is expected to improve electricity reliability, expand clean energy access, and support Pakistan’s broader efforts to increase renewable energy generation while reducing dependence on conventional power sources.
