In a bid to tackle the energy shortfall in Pakistan’s underserved but strategically vital regions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a plan to repurpose confiscated solar panels lying unused at Karachi Port for public power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Gwadar.
The panels, previously seized and awaiting clearance, will now be diverted to support national development goals, according to a report in Business Recorder.
The move is designed to ease electricity shortages while reducing dependence on fossil fuels, in line with Pakistan’s clean energy transition.
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The Prime Minister’s Office has directed an immediate assessment of the panels’ volume and technical viability.
Key instructions include: (i) deploying up to 100 MW of solar capacity in Gilgit-Baltistan through distributed photovoltaic projects across remote locations, and (ii) using the remaining panels for solar-powered water supply schemes in Gwadar, where unreliable electricity has hampered port and industrial activity.
