Prisons across Punjab to be equipped with solar systems

With Pakistan rapidly embracing the transition to solar systems to reduce electricity costs, all prisons across Punjab are soon to be equipped with solar panels.

With the Punjab Home Department approving the scheme, the solarisation of all prisons in the province will drastically reduce electricity costs while endorsing sustainable energy solutions for confinement centres. 

Citing sources, The News reported that an allocated budget proposal of Rs2.3 billion was prepared for the installation of solar panels in all 44 jails across Punjab. 

The current annual electricity bill of these prisons is Rs2bn, according to the home department of the province. Energy costs of these jails, following the transition to solar power, are expected to significantly drop, leading to the savings of billions of rupees in the near future.

The publication cited home department officials lauding the initiative as a much-needed move which might offset rising energy costs while delivering uninterrupted, sustainable power to prison facilities.

This comes on the heels of the Pakistan government asking the World Bank (WB) to pause a $300 million floating solar penal project, which might have substantially propelled Pakistan's electricity production.

Earlier, the government of Pakistan sought a loan from the WB to build a 300-megawatt floating solar power project.