Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday, chaired a high-level review meeting on the 100-megawatt (MW) solar energy project in Gilgit-Baltistan, where he was informed that the PC-1 for the 82MW utility-scale solar component has been formally submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
As per the official statement, the 82MW solar project is envisioned to benefit approximately 1.3 million people and substantially reduce load shedding in the region.
During the meeting, PM underscored the national importance of promoting solar energy as a key component for environmentally friendly, clean, affordable, and sustainable power. 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.
He also emphasised the necessity of complete transparency in the procurement process for the solar project and directed that all payments be made only after thorough third-party validation. During the briefing, officials provided an update on the project. Besides the 82MW utility-scale component, an 18MW solar system, complete with battery storage, is slated for installation on the roofs of 499 government buildings across Gilgit-Baltistan by December. This aims to further enhance service quality and contribute to the region’s energy self-sufficiency.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Leghari, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other relevant senior government officials. In September 2025, PM Shehbaz approved a plan to use confiscated solar panels for public power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, with 100MW capacity specifically for distributed solar photovoltaic projects across remote sites in GB.