LAYYAH: The construction work of a Rs100 billion 100 megawatt solar power plant started at Rakh Chaubara in Chaubara tehsil with a simple event on Wednesday.

Led by Deputy Commissioner Azfar Zia, a team of workers started the digging work with excavators for the project with a simple Duaa (prayer) ceremony.

According to officials, the Punjab government has leased 600 acres of land to Zhenfa, a Chinese company, for the project that is expected to be completed in a year.

The lease agreement was signed by the provincial minister for energy, in the committee room of the energy department on January 5 in Lahore.

“The Punjab government has agreed to purchase the energy at the rate of 3.7 cents, which is the lowest in the history of the country. The project will also create jobs for 50,000 citizens,” the DC claimed.

“The project will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs100 billion and provide 170.3 million units of electricity to the National Grid. As many AS 70,000 households will be benefiting from this project,” Mr Zia added.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2021