ECC approves Rs24.5bn for solarisation of agri tube-wells in Balochistan
— May 5, 2025
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday approved the release of Rs24.5 billion for the timely completion of a major solarisation project covering 27,000 agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan.
The decision was taken during an ECC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad.
The project, which aims to shift the region’s tube-wells to solar power, will be carried out at a total cost of Rs55 billion, shared jointly by the federal government and the Balochistan government in a 70:30 financing ratio. The ECC was informed that Rs14 billion had already been disbursed for the initiative.
The committee directed the Power Division to closely oversee the project’s implementation, particularly ensuring the disconnection of tube-wells from the national grid and the removal of transformers and related fixtures for each batch of feeders, in line with the project’s agreed terms.
It further instructed the Power Division to present a detailed progress report on the project’s execution in July.
During the meeting, the ECC also received a briefing from the Power Division on developments within the power distribution companies (DISCOs). It was reported that the Boards of Directors of all DISCOs had been reconstituted and a monthly performance monitoring mechanism had been put in place. This system will evaluate key operational, commercial and financial indicators for all power distribution entities.
Additionally, the ECC approved several technical supplementary grants for various ministries during the session.