LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to shift all 43 jails in the province to solar energy.
The Punjab Home Department has prepared a final plan and submitted it to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for approval. With the help of the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), a survey of all jails has been completed to estimate the cost of this shift.
According to details, the yearly electricity and gas bills for Punjab’s 43 jails have reached 4.5 billion rupees. The total cost of switching to solar energy is estimated at 4.35 billion rupees, which is less than one year’s bills.
The NRTC says this project will reduce electricity costs by up to 60 percent, and the investment will be recovered in three years. After this, Punjab’s jails will become self-sufficient in energy, easing the burden on the provincial budget.
A spokesperson from the Punjab Home Department said that rising electricity and gas bills in recent years led to this decision to move to green energy.
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The plan will be presented to the provincial cabinet, and a recommendation has been made to allocate 2 billion rupees for it in the current financial year.
This step will not only lower government expenses but also support environmental protection by using eco-friendly energy. Once the shift to solar energy is complete, Punjab’s jails will be fully self-reliant in energy, which will be seen as a major achievement for the province.
On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a five-year transport plan for the province. She chaired a special video-link meeting on transport, where a new modern transport system for the entire province was reviewed.
The meeting decided to introduce the latest Automated Rapid Transport (ART) system across Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered an immediate trial run of the ART.
During the briefing, she was informed that the ART is a successful mass transit system used in countries like Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Compared to a regular bus, the ART requires less space on the road.
The ART is a bus with three coaches and can carry more than 300 passengers. The briefing added that the ART can charge in a few minutes at smart stations while stationary.
It will offer passengers features like fast charging, Wi-Fi, monitoring cameras, and other facilities. Unlike traditional fuel, the ART will be a fully solar-powered transport system.
In the first phase, the ART system will be introduced in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, along with other areas.
