Karachi Pakistan – Former Minister and Chairman Standing Committee on Communication FPCCI has stated that the present solar power generation system designed to be installed for the public sector is not affordable for the masses of Pakistan.
The cost is over 2 lakh a KW or more and the batteries to be replaced on regular basis costing additional amount. Minimum requirements for a small home to manage Fans + basic lights at a 100 sqyds home or even apartment is 1.5 kilo watt. There is no easy installment plan by the companies or any bank which discourages the common people of Pakistan to install the solar system at their home.
Due to electric crises with large taxation by the govt, people can’t enable to pay the large electric bills and on the other hand can’t go for any alternate arrangement including solar system, in spite of the fact as per Kyoto agreement where it is clearly directed to produce 10 percent energy from green energy will lead to carbon credits for the people and the country itself, but it has never been exercised.
The commercial aspect of alternative energy does not cater for even 2% of the total requirement of Pakistan. It has not been designed to help the masses and the country at large.
An Alternative Energy Development Board came in to existence many years back to establish wind farms, solar systems and establishing all means to encourage the alternative energy sector like India, Holland, Japan, Dubai, but It become beneficial for only large industrial groups as well as business groups but the concept given by the world leaders and countries to boost alternative energy to control the pollution and provide cheap power to masses was never achieved in Pakistan.
It is high time to consider the cost effectiveness in regards to solar system which may enable the Pakistani community to use the alternative means of energy offcourse green, instead the corporate sector is once again ignoring the masses of the country and using the essential need for their own benefits.
The growth rate will only take place if alternative energy sector when provide power supply to the masses in the same way they do in cellular industry in which any one can afford a cell phone he may be poor or rich.
By : Muhammad Noman Saigal
Chief Executive S. Group
Former Minister for Health, Environment, & Information Technology.
