The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the “Prime Minister’s National Programme for Solarization of Agriculture Tube- wells” project, which falls under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. This project is set to be implemented in Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan, with a total cost of Rs377,236.275 million and an estimated timeline of three years.
The first phase of the project, scheduled for the financial year 2023-24, will require Rs90 billion, including Rs30 billion from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and matching contributions from provincial governments and beneficiary farmers.
The main objective of this initiative is to improve agricultural productivity by harnessing clean and renewable energy sources, specifically by converting 100,000 tube-wells (comprising 50,000 diesel-run and 50,000 electric power tube- wells) into solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The Ministry of National Food Security, in collaboration with the Federal Water Management Cell (FWMC) and provincial agriculture departments, will oversee the execution of this project.
The proposed project aligns with the need to ensure the efficient and responsible use of groundwater resources, as well as to minimize investments in the construction and upkeep of infrastructure necessary for solarization. By promoting the adoption of solar PV systems for agriculture, the government aims to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to meet the energy needs of the agricultural sector.
