LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given approval to converting government schools to solar energy under the off-grid solar solution programme.

Addressing a meeting held here on Sunday, the chief minister said that more than 4,000 primary schools of rural areas in Punjab would be converted to solar energy in the first phase and a programme had been evolved to install solar panels in primary schools.

He said that solar panels would ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity to primary schools.

Mr Shahbaz directed that in the first phase, immediate measures be taken for converting primary schools to solar energy while complete planning should be made for introducing off-grid solar solution in other schools.

The chief minister said that a practicable progrmame should also be devised for the provision of solar home solution to low-income families.

Mr Shahbaz directed that a pilot project be evolved for the provision of electricity to rural areas from biogas and solar energy and a financial model be developed for generation of energy from biogas and solar power.

Published in Dawn January 26th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play