MARDAN: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi inaugurated Azadi-i-Pakistan Solar Expo here on Monday.

Upon arrival at the expo, he was received by Mardan mayor Himayatullah Mayar, former president of Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahir Shah and acting president of chamber Nauman Saraf.

The governor, who was also chief guest on the occasion, inspected stalls of solar panel manufacturing companies and solar products. More than 50 national and international companies had set up stalls at the event.

The office-bearers of chamber, members of business community and traders associated with solar panel industry as well as a large number of local elders attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that importance of solar energy had increased significantly owing to the current electricity crisis across the country. He said that both residential buildings and industrial units in the province were shifting to solar energy.

He said that 70 per cent of marble factories in Mardan had already shifted to solar energy. He appreciated Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for organising the exhibition.

Mr Kundi said that power outages and high electricity tariffs had worsened problems of industrialists and common people. Despite production of electricity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, its people remained deprived of that basic facility, he added.

He said that engineers were playing vital role in promoting affordable energy in residential and industrial sectors. He claimed that he remained in contact with various federal ministries and institutions to work for improving conditions in the province. He said that elements trying to disturb peace of the province were spreading false propaganda against security institutions.

However, he said that people of the province stood firmly with institutions in bringing peace and normality to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2025