The Steering Committee on the ‘Conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power’, has urged the Balochistan Government to fast tract implementation on the conversion of agricultural tube-wells to solar power.

According to an official statement issued here on Thursday, the meeting of the Steering Committee on the ‘Conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power’, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, was held here on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Minister for Power, Additional Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Power Division, Chief Secretary of Balochistan, and the Secretary of the Energy Department, Balochistan.

The meeting took stock of the progress on the government’s initiative to convert agricultural tube wells in Balochistan to solar power. The meeting was informed that a sanction of Rs14 billion was issued by the Federal Government to the Government of Balochistan on February 4, 2025.

According to the Daily Situation Report (DSR) submitted by Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), Rs12.4 billion was disbursed by the Government of Balochistan till March 1, 2025.

A total of 4,539 disconnections, 2,378 poles and allied materials, and 2,626 transformers were retrieved, resulting in a 67.4 MW load reduction from these agricultural tube wells, the meeting was apprised.

The meeting was further informed that there were 27,437 subsidized agricultural tube wells and 10,263 illegal agricultural tube wells in Balochistan. QESCO has 50 agricultural-dominated feeders active, with total pending receivables of Rs564 billion.

As per the initiative, a compensation of Rs02 million for each tube well subject to disconnection is being provided will be borne by the Federal Government and Government of Balochistan on a 70:30 cost sharing basis.

It was informed that third-party verification of solarization will be conducted. The Chair showed concern on slow implementation and urged the Government of Balochistan and QESCO to fast tract implementation.