Govt to Spend Rs. 377 Billion to Shift 100,000 Tube Wells to Solar

Secretary Food Security on Tuesday informed the Standing Committee on Food Security that the federal government has allocated Rs. 377 billion for shifting 100,000 tube wells to solar power to benefit farmers. The secretary said Rs. 30 billion has been designated for the current year and to ensure its success, the project will involve a cost-sharing arrangement where farmers, the provincial government, and the federal government each contribute one-third of the expenses. So far, Rs. 5 billion has been released, and the project is set to be completed in phases over three years. Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain told the committee that the government’s focus is on agriculture. It was essential to set and enforce fair fertilizer prices, and the district administration is responsible for implementing these prices, he added. During the meeting, Senator Dinesh Kumar inquired about the five percent increase in the ministry’s budget and its impact on the agriculture sector. The food minister assured that the plan to solarize tube wells, which had been approved in consultation with the provinces, aligns with constitutional provisions. He added that a project to provide solar panels to the poor has already started in Punjab. The panel was also informed that China has established a donkey farm and slaughterhouse in Gwada after approval from the federal government.