The high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, in Islamabad addressed critical issues concerning agriculture and electricity in Balochistan. Alongside Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Leghari, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh, and Secretary Power, the meeting also included top federal and provincial officials.
A key focus of the discussion was the conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar energy in Balochistan to alleviate the hardships faced by farmers due to electricity shortages. Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the priority placed on the well-being of the people of Balochistan and assured that all resources would be utilized to ensure the timely completion of federal development projects in the province.
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Chief Minister Safraz Bugti highlighted the severe difficulties farmers encounter due to electricity shortages and stressed the importance of improving power transmission and supply for the agriculture sector. He proposed adopting alternative energy sources such as solar energy to address these challenges and assured that the provincial government is committed to removing hurdles facing farmers.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal instructed the Power Division and the Provincial Government of Balochistan to develop a roadmap and strategy for the conversion of underground tube wells to solar energy and to implement it promptly. Additionally, he urged the initiation of an awareness campaign to educate the public on electricity theft and emphasized the need for strict measures against individuals involved in such illegal activities. He underscored that electricity theft and non-payment of bills are significant causes of load shedding and emphasized the importance of taking legal action against electricity thieves.
