Pakistan PM flags off world's first solar Parliament

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the world’s first ever solar-powered Parliament House.

“I appreciate the initiatives of National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman for making the country’s parliament the first in the world to be run entirely on solar power,” the premier said while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

“It is encouraging to note that the Parliament’s solar plant will not only meet its own energy requirements but the additional electricity will contribute to the national grid,” he added.

The premier assured that the shortage of electricity has always been a problem for Pakistan but the government is gradually trying to resolve it.

Lauding China’s efforts, PM Nawaz stated that this solar power system, along with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is proof of friendship between the two countries. ”Not only Pakistan, but China, as well as the entire region will benefit from CPEC,” the premier reiterated.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nawaz launched the project on April 22, 2015.

The system is currently generating 80MWh electricity, of which 62MW is used by the Parliament House and the surplus 18MW supplied to the national grid. The project was completed in seven months at a cost of Rs280.61 million.

The solar-power plant will help the Parliament House save around Rs12 million in electricity bills every year, officials reportedly claim. The power demand at the legislative house rises to 2.3MW in summers due to the additional load of air conditioners and other cooling equipment.