A new solar project has been launched to provide solar solutions to women entrepreneurs in rural areas of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The ‘Solar Bibi Project’ aims at improving businesses of women entrepreneurs by providing them uninterrupted power supply through solar energy.
Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) President Samina Fazil inaugurated the project.
Samina said that after the first phase, the project would be expanded to other areas to facilitate women who were forced to stop working after sunset due to load shedding and power outages.
She said that the initiative launched with the help of the Centre of Information Technology, Centre for Women Entrepreneurship and Self Employed Women Association would help change thousands of women especially widows who strive hard to make both ends meet.
The IWCCI president stressed that women would be taught how to operate and maintain solar charging stations in their homes to help them earn a decent living. The availability of cheap and portable light would also help men to irrigate their farmland during dusk and dawn, she said.
Islamabad Capital Territory Director General Ammar Jaffri said that the project is aimed at providing sustainable energy to off-grid areas and to empower the women.
He said that the solar lanterns will help reduce carbon emissions as each lantern will replace around 500 to 600 litres of kerosene during its 10-year life span.
He said that the government needs to support off-grid solar projects and encourage people to use renewable energy sources to decrease the pressure on the national grid.
