Pakistan’s parliament on Tuesday became the first in the world to completely run on solar power, a venture supported by close ally China with a whopping $55 million funding.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a simple ceremony switched on solar-powered building of the parliament in capital Islamabad.
First announced in 2014, the venture has been funded by the Chinese government as an act of friendship, with the solar power plant costing around $55 million.
“This the first time since independence (1947) that parliament has become self-sufficient in electricity through solar power. Other institutions in private and public sector need to follow it,” Prime Minister Nawaz said in his brief speech.
The prime minister also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to end power outages by 2018.
Nawaz said that he is personally monitoring progress on various power projects launched in different sectors, adding that some projects will be completed this year while most of them will come in the system by the end of next year.
He said it is encouraging to note that the parliament’s solar plant will not only meet its own energy requirements but the additional electricity will also be contributed to the national grid.
The project to run parliament on solar power was launched last year when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited and addressed the parliament.
China provided over $55 million to carry out the project.
“This is another example of Pak-China friendship,” Nawaz said.
Chinese ambassador to Pakistan was also present during the ceremony.
According to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the parliament solar panels will generate 80 MW power.
He said 62 MW will be sufficient for parliament while 18 MW will be given to national grid.
Officials said that there are some parliaments like the Israeli Knesset which are partly run on solar power.