GHULAM ABBAS
ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan has written a letter to Federal Minister of Power Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan, urgently seeking federal cooperation to address the severe power crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan and to organize a power sector donor conference.
In the letter, the Chief Minister highlighted the ongoing power crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan, noting that some areas are experiencing up to 22 hours of load shedding, causing immense suffering for residents. Economic activities in these areas are paralyzed, and daily life is severely impacted. With no connection to the national grid, reliance on local power production is increasing, exacerbating the power deficit. Gilgit-Baltistan allocates a significant portion of its annual development budget to power projects, which adversely affects other development plans. The lack of alternative energy sources is also leading to increased deforestation, with negative environmental impacts.
The Chief Minister emphasized Gilgit-Baltistan’s unique position in tourism, which is severely impacted by the power crisis. He urged the federal government to address these issues urgently. Gilgit-Baltistan has the potential to generate approximately 50,000 megawatts of electricity, but this requires feasibility studies, inclusion of mega projects in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), and attracting investors.
The Chief Minister proposed the installation of 50-megawatt solar power projects in the most affected areas as a short-term solution, a recommendation that has also been made to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He also stressed the need to upgrade the transmission and distribution system due to the unique and challenging conditions of Gilgit-Baltistan.
To attract investment in power generation projects as a permanent solution, the government of Gilgit-Baltistan desires to hold an international donors’ conference. The Chief Minister requested the Federal Minister’s participation in this conference, hoping that he will play a key role in overcoming the power crisis.
