Pakistan’s parliament to be ‘first in the world to go green’
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ISLAMABAD: In six months, the parliament will hold the distinction of being the first parliament in the world to go green.
This was announced by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, at a signing ceremony of Letter of Exchange between Pakistan and China for the installation of Solar Power Generation System (SPGS) at the Parliament House on Wednesday.
Adviser to Finance Division Rana Asad Ameen told Dawn that the Chinese government had provided a grant through the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to set up the SPGS system as an alternative source of energy to meet electricity needs of the Parliament House.
“The Chinese government will install 1.1 MW SPGS at the Parliament House while the current requirement of the parliament is 1.8 MW,” Ameen said.
The adviser said the project will be completed in the next six months.
He said solar panels will be installed on the roof of the parliament.
An official of the Ministry of Water and Power told Dawn that feasibility was carried out through the EAD last year, regarding the installation of the SPGS.
The official said the Chinese government will bear the initial cost of the SPGS under the grant, while batteries will be replaced after three years.
He said the initiative will be environmentally friendly and there will be no fuel expenses.
The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Energy Dr Musadiq Malik told Dawn that the SPGS at the Parliament House will set an example for hospitals, schools, banks and other institutions.
“Hospitals and other institutions use generators in the absence of electricity which costs Rs40 per unit but if we replace generators with SPGS, the price of one unit will be Rs15. This is why it is a good alternative for consumers,” Malik said.
He said the government was interested in moving towards solar energy to overcome crisis of loadshedding across the country.
Earlier, Ayaz Sadiq said the establishment of 1-MW solar power generation system by the Chinese government will begin a new chapter in the existing relations of Pakistan and China.
Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar thanked the Chinese government as well as its ambassador to Pakistan for making the project a reality.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said the solar power generation system for the parliament of Pakistan would be a gift from China and work on the project will be initiated soon.
Published in Dawn, October 30th , 2014
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Comments (77) Closed
Oct 30, 2014 08:24am
After all the money tax payers have paid to you, at least SOMETHING is done!
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Oct 30, 2014 08:34am
Congratulations to Pakistan for making their Parliment green but did you take into account the hot air put out by Parlimentarians during their speech and the pollution they cause! Politicians are same around rhe world
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Oct 30, 2014 08:35am
Keep it up Pakistan . Luv from India
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Oct 30, 2014 08:38am
Good decision. But don't forget to check all chinese equipments. They may send data to china.
BTW, the cost per unit will be more than Rs. 15. May be Govt. is not calculating the maintenance charges and batteries replacement charges.
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Oct 30, 2014 08:51am
1MW? Why do Pakistan need Chinese Government to install such a low capacity system? Being in Solar Business myself, 1MW is too small for Governments to involve unlike 100MW or 500MW. Also no Parliaments around the World will allow outsiders access to Parliament especially to other nations.
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Oct 30, 2014 08:55am
Solar and wind power are the only way for Pakistan to achieve long term energy success. Congrats! Great to know China has assisted Pakistan's Parliament buildings in this outstanding implementation of going green!
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Oct 30, 2014 08:57am
This is 1 MW installed peak capacity under ideal conditions. Most of the time it will operate at less than that. Since the requirement is 1.8MW, a shortfall of more than 50% will be the norm.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:19am
Thank you China. Long live Pakistan-China friendship.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:22am
Why Chinese have not done this in their own parliament? It is rather shameful that after decades of research work done, Chinese help is needed for just 1 MW solar plant.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:27am
This is not true. We were always green. With the color of Dollar. :)
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Oct 30, 2014 09:52am
good move :) at least in this case india can learn something from pakistan :) let's make our parliament green :) infact there is a need for solar revolution we should have a solar panel on every roof of our nation :)
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Oct 30, 2014 09:53am
Perhaps Imran Khan should also think about installing one at his bani gala residence.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:53am
Perhaps Imran Khan should also think about installing one at his bani gala residence.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:54am
Perhaps Imran Khan should also think about installing one at his bani gala residence.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:01am
why only the parliament.... There are no industrial / commercial activities due to the lack of power... is parliament is more important than the industrial wheel.... You have to have a big vision and take very small steps to get there. You have to be humble as you execute but visionary and gigantic in terms of your aspiration.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:17am
good work china, saudia. our leaders are the offspring of Mughal they are here to spend poor people's money. instead of this they set example to make all pakistan green and make new dams. just running electricity in the parliament not making pakistan great or progress.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:18am
I wish it could also go CLEAN ( of the corrupt parliamentarians ).
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Oct 30, 2014 10:34am
first in the world to go green with corrupt politicians
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Oct 30, 2014 10:34am
its already RED & White Parliament , Red for Blood & White for surrender
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Oct 30, 2014 10:34am
@AYZA
You forgot to mention hydropower. Pakistan has potential to produce 50000MW electricity from river sindh only.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:48am
Parliament might turn green after Shariff Brothers pocketing half ouf the allocated budget. , but the corrupt people sitting in Parliament will remain stinky tainted.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:56am
Good going Pakistan..
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Oct 30, 2014 10:57am
They may have gone green but their shade of black (kaalay dhanday) is way more prominent.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:58am
Good...Hope this will for sure get completed in six month only and not six years. Secondly also hope that China would also take the responsibility of maintenance of batteries and other spares, else this would be just a show piece after 1 year of installation.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:59am
Made in China....
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Oct 30, 2014 11:02am
Is Pakistan happy with this MAJOR support from China..
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Oct 30, 2014 11:07am
Alas!! I was thinking that Pakistan's bureaucratic or political minds have set this an example...but in fact IT IS AN AID GIVEN BY CHINESE....!!! What a heart breaking scenerio...that still we can't stand on our feets for just 1.1MW for the Parliament of Pakistan and still seeking foreign aid and showing teeths in front of media that they have done a great job! What a message it would convey to the world, i guess.
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Oct 30, 2014 11:15am
try to use your money its always Chinese
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Oct 30, 2014 11:16am
This is a new chapter in Pak-China friendship , would be interesting to read what final chapter looks like.
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Oct 30, 2014 11:20am
How did Dr Musadiq Malik arrive at the figure of Rs 15 per unit? The current govt has put 32.5% custom duty on Solar panels which was earlier less than 5%. So much for promoting Green Energy!
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Oct 30, 2014 11:37am
Hearty Congratulations to Pakistan and all the brothers and sisters of Pakistan for this unique distinction.
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Oct 30, 2014 11:40am
Meaning painting green? Pun aside, congratulations, good move.
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Oct 30, 2014 11:50am
Good to go for green tech but it is not world's first or second or third, many parliament buildings in the world and many legislative assemblies in India uses green energy for decades.
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Oct 30, 2014 12:09pm
just install some solar panels and declare yourself green.. not that simple..
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Oct 30, 2014 12:22pm
But we were told that Chinese PM's visit is postponed. How could they sign this deal then?
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Oct 30, 2014 12:22pm
Another way to mint money.
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Oct 30, 2014 12:43pm
Chinese are very clever people. They are largest producers of solar panels in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_China
Pakistan is suffering electricity issue. If solar panels are installed at top of parliament, everyone will start to shout for more solar panels installations. Boom .... China again to give their services :)
China is friendly nation but very good businessmen as well.
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Oct 30, 2014 12:50pm
@Zak ka Baap Because to increase chinese involvement in pakistan to next level, friendship also increases to next level.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:05pm
Pakistan does not need to spend money in these gimmicks. They have already adopted the darkest shade of green in 1947.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:07pm
Why not PM & President CMs house also go GREEN ?
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Oct 30, 2014 01:15pm
@Indian.... are we running any thing in Pakistan based on calculation... the only calculation our parliamentarians know is to calculate the ill acquired wealth...
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Oct 30, 2014 01:19pm
@Zak ka Baap they don't even know what Mega watts means...they only know.. mega bite, mega chunk, mega bucks how to make them quick and fast...
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Oct 30, 2014 01:28pm
So what to do with "common people"?Anything for them?
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Oct 30, 2014 01:33pm
Many parliaments in the world are already having solar energy to power them - green building doesn't mean only having solar panels - it means the entire building to be made in such a way to harness energy from nature and they even recycle urine to water plants in a green building, also the green agencies give rating to such building - it would be great if the rating of Pakistan parliament building is disclosed and the rating agency, that will be an inspiration for all other parliament buildings to go green...!!
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Oct 30, 2014 01:38pm
@Zak ka Baap 999MW of Blough - 1000MW of actual power equals 1MW of lie.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:43pm
@Dr carla This nation was originally named Moronno.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:51pm
@Shahid Bashir Agreed. But, China is not a friend just for friendship's sake... But they are after monetary benefits, and We Pakistani are providing them ground to sell third quality products. We eagerly buy all their 3rd quality items instead of buying PAKISTANI products.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:04pm
@Hariyaali - So, its still hurting to this day?
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Oct 30, 2014 02:27pm
It was another way to earn kick backs. No big deal, this government is looking for projects to earn money
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Oct 30, 2014 02:46pm
Its a grant from China?? Common Pakistan please dont take aide from others and invest some of your own money.
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Oct 30, 2014 03:49pm
WOW, Keep it up Pakistan. Some good is better than several Bad.
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Oct 30, 2014 03:53pm
@Anwar Amjad Why you people get emotional. China helped you. Its nice. You help China sometime. but dont involve your heart into it. heartbreak is possible. in China case, Heart attack is sure. China is super power. China will not satisfy only by heartbreak.
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Oct 30, 2014 03:56pm
@Asif Dont know about Pakistan. But in general, nations buy such technology at initial stage and then research on the buying parts and try to manufacture by their own to get benefit from it for the whole country.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:01pm
Why don't they do it with the tax we pay? And what happens to all the remittances Pakistanis in foreign countries send back? Why don't they use those funds?
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Oct 30, 2014 04:35pm
@Sohail Hydel power generation is the only economically feasible option for meeting national power generation requirements.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:43pm
Allah never wanted this way. We just keep on begging. Did we give anything to anyone? Are we not ashamed of?
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Oct 30, 2014 05:34pm
@Dr carla Govt of Gujarat is admired for taking bold and proactive initiative in the Projects of Renewable energy to harness Clean and Green Energy. GPCL commissioned, Asia’s largest "Gujarat Solar Park" to mitigate impact of Climate Change and to protect environment for our future generation, making Solar Sector vibrant and viable not only in our Nation but also across the Globe
590 MW capacity of "Solar Park" is located at village Charanka, District Patan in Gujarat spread across 5,384 acres of unused land. The integrated "Solar Park" has state of art infrastructure with provision to harness rain water besides power evacuation at the door steps. Installed capacity of 224MW Solar Project have been commissioned by 20 developers. The capacity will be enhanced by another 50MW by the end of this year, thus putting the installed capacity as 274MW., accounting to 25% of total Solar generation developed India. Solar Park has also capacity to generate 100 MW of Wind Power and already two Wind Mills, each of 2.1 MW has been commissioned making the Park, biggest solar-wind hybrid Park in the world. "Solar Park” also accounts for 3,42,400 tons Carbon Emission Reductions (CERs) which is one of the largest CERs contributing Project in the Renewable Energy Sector.
Development cost of "Solar Park" was Rs. 4500 Crores, which includes Rs. 550 Crores for infrastructure and land acquisition and Rs. 3,996 crores for Solar Power Plant (Developers investment), besides creating an Employment for more than 1,000 people on permanent basis.
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Oct 30, 2014 05:38pm
and the first in the world that is totally filled with 'GREED'.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:42pm
Giving free access to a foreign government o install electrical system. Bad naïve idea. Are we not ashamedinstad of bragging about being first in the world. Ho disgraceful.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:48pm
Green Parliment, Red handed Parlimentarians!
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Oct 30, 2014 07:23pm
So the power of the Parliament is in Chinese hands? Not surprising, isn't it?!
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Oct 30, 2014 08:49pm
First they need to stop taking bribes and eradicate corruption and nepotism in their own ranks then do other good things.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:09pm
@Harmony Don't you what's going on?? It is hurting to the entire world, I would say.
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Oct 30, 2014 11:12pm
Good news- Thanks to China. Since the Parliament now understands the benefits of Solar energy, it may now consider removing all import duties and surcharges for solar energy generation equipment so that Pakistan can benefit from green power. Even though Pakistan remains energy starved, it is amazing to see approximately 31% custom duty on import of solar equipment. Please remove it and allow duty free import
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Oct 31, 2014 01:48am
What is the cost of this SOLAR system? And by the way who are the local partners ? Any idea who is making money in this?
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Oct 31, 2014 02:19am
Now put some Green thinking politicians in there
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Oct 31, 2014 04:02am
With so many kick backs being awarded to ruling party friends.
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Oct 31, 2014 04:08am
I thought it was all brown...............
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Oct 31, 2014 04:20am
They should send energy to national grid when this building produces excess or in time when building is not being used. Although if its attached to grid system. Batteries cost will be reduced significantly because you can send extra to national grid and receive when required and hence no need to store energy in batteries and also saves a 20-25% energy overhead due to unnecessary storage into batteries. Green will go even greener when better design.
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Oct 31, 2014 06:14am
@Human That's because China does not have a Parliament. It is a one party dictatorship since 1949.
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Oct 31, 2014 06:33am
@ZM
That's a good one!
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Oct 31, 2014 06:35am
Alhumdolillah! now all problems in pakistan are fixed. Pollution from the parliament was the last things.
I call this loosing perspective!
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Oct 31, 2014 03:09pm
@VINAY SINGH: Please do your home work before posting, Indian Parliament went Green long time back in May, 2011.. Lanco Solar was the EPC... .... Search Google for more details..
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Nov 01, 2014 01:10am
Chinese grant. At what cost?
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Nov 01, 2014 06:33am
Why can't Pakistan fund this itself? They should have already learned their lesson that foreign "gifts" usually come with strings attached.
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Nov 01, 2014 08:29am
I don't trust china with anything.China does not "help", it has its only agenda and foreign policy unlike foolish country like ours which think that China is our ally.
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Nov 01, 2014 04:18pm
@Read - 1947 is part of history now but if your grudge is still there then its such a pity!
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