Punjab to shift all jails to solar energy
Refuting rumours of new taxes on solar power, Minister for Power Awais Leghari stated that the government has no such plans in the near future. photo: file
Listen to article
Punjab government has decided to transition all 43 jails in the province to solar energy, a move expected to reduce electricity and gas bills by up to 60%.
The plan, which aims to address rising utility costs, has been presented by the Punjab Home Department and is awaiting final approval from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Express News reported.
An initial survey conducted by the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has estimated that the annual energy costs for Punjab's 43 jails have reached a staggering Rs4.5 billion.
However, the total cost of transitioning these prisons to solar power is projected to be less than the annual utility bills, making the investment a cost-effective solution in the long run.
According to NRTC, the transition to solar energy for all 43 jails will require an investment of approximately Rs4.35 billion.
The phased implementation of the green energy solution will result in a 60% reduction in electricity costs, providing long-term financial relief.
The investment is expected to be recovered within three years, after which the jails will become self-sufficient in energy, reducing the financial burden on the provincial treasury.
A spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department stated that the decision to move to green energy was made in response to record increases in electricity and gas bills in recent years.
The proposal for transitioning all jails to solar energy has been submitted to the provincial cabinet, with a recommendation to allocate Rs2 billion in the current fiscal year's budget to kickstart the project.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
21% hike in defence budget
In response to mounting security threats and recent military escalation with India, the federal government on Tuesday proposed a substantial 21 per cent increase in the defence budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 – a move that garnered cross-party support. The proposed allocation of Rs2,550 billion marks a sharp rise from the outgoing fiscal year's original defence budget of Rs2,128 billion. The revised figure for the current year stands at Rs2,181 billion, reflecting the financial strain of last month's four-day military standoff with India, during which both countries exchanged missiles and drones for the first time since becoming nuclear powers. The increase in Pakistan's defence spending this year outpaces the average annual rise of 1015 per cent seen in recent years, driven largely by what officials term a "radically altered regional security environment". India's 2025-26 defence budget has been set at $78.7 billion — a 9.5 per cent increase — with $21 billion earmarked for the procurement of new military equipment. According to the budget documents, Pakistan's defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP will rise to 1.97 per cent, up from last year's 1.71 per cent. The figures exclude Rs742 billion allocated for pensions of retired military personnel and Rs300 billion for the Armed Forces Development Programme. A breakdown of the proposed Rs2,550 billion allocation shows: Rs846 billion set aside for salaries and employee-related expenses; Rs704 billion for operating expenses; Rs663 billion for procurement of arms, ammunition and related equipment — both domestic and imported — and Rs336 billion for civil works and infrastructure development. While all three services — the army, navy, and air force — will receive budgetary increases, the Pakistan Army continues to command the largest share due to its size and operational responsibilities. The budget hike comes in the wake of unprecedented hostilities last month, triggered by India's allegations that Pakistan was behind the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan categorically denied any involvement. The two countries exchanged drones and missiles before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10, which held despite India later rejecting Washington's mediation and insisting its military campaign — dubbed "Operation Sindoor" — was merely paused. During the conflict, Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets and one UAV. Islamabad has since warned that any future violation of its sovereignty would be met with a swift and forceful response. India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has adopted a more aggressive posture, declaring that any future attack could be treated as an act of war. Defence analysts argue that the strategic landscape has changed. With India effectively lowering the threshold for conflict, Pakistan's defence planners are increasingly focused on acquiring next-generation technologies, including fifth-generation fighter jets from China, advanced drones and cyber warfare capabilities. In past years, debates over balancing defence spending with development priorities were common. However, in the current context of heightened military alert and geopolitical uncertainty, the latest budget has drawn little public criticism. Experts warn that absent a credible peace process and sustained diplomatic engagement, the region risks being caught in a costly and dangerous arms race.
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business Recorder
FPCCI offers mixed reaction to budget
ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: The business community of the country has expressed mixed reaction on the presentation of federal budget 2025-26, saying the government has totally ignored women entrepreneurs. Speaking at a press conference simultaneously from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, the leaders of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) led by Atif Ikram Sheikh, president FPPCI, overall appreciated the budget proposals, adding that the business community will give detailed reaction within the next few days after detailed study and review of the budget. The FPPCI representatives said the government in some sectors has provided relief and some sectors have all together been ignored. Education sector is also ignored; exporters should also be facilitated as an estimated Rs2,500 billion deficit is on the cards and enhancing exports is one of the key factors to bridge the budget deficit. They said that the government has also ignored infrastructure of Information Technology (IT) sector. They; however, appreciated the government for taxing e-commerce, saying this is a good tax which will help promote local online business platforms. FPCCI President Sheikh, while welcoming the budgetary proposals, said that the government has accepted most of the demands and proposals regarding relief in taxation, measures to reduce power prices, and taking steps for ease of doing business. He; however, said that since the inflation has reached the lowest level; therefore, the government should have announced reducing the rate of interest from the present 12 percent level to 6-7 percent, which is critical to boost commercial activities. A reduction in super tax from one per cent to 0.5 per cent is also appreciable, as well as, a reduction in stamp duty on property from four per cent to 2.5 per cent. Sheikh said that earmarking a hefty Rs716 billion budget for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to help around 10 million households of marginalised segment will help reduce the poverty level. He said that the FPPCI in the next few days will give a detailed reaction after detailed consultation with all the sectors. The FPPCI president said that the government needs to pay serious attention towards Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) which has shown negative growth during out going financial year, saying that the growth of LSM will increase employment. He said that overall business community was satisfied with the performance of national economy with 2.7 percent GDP growth and setting 4.2 percent GDP growth target was also not overestimated. Pakistan has made a good economic recovery, the government needs to take this recovery towards stability, he added. This year, the size of the economy has exceeded $400 billion for the first time, which is a great achievement, said Sheikh. However, he was of the view that in addition to these achievements, more work is needed on many sectors of the economy. The major decline in large-scale manufacturing in the current fiscal year is worrying, he expressed. Patron-in-Chief United Business Group (UBG) SM Tanveer also hailed the overall budgetary proposals from providing relief to construction industry to GDP growth but flayed the government for imposing 18 percent tax on solar panels. He said that the imposition of 18 percent tax on solar panels will increase the cost of solar electricity which at present was the only cheap source of energy for all the segments of the economy from household to industry. Tanveer also appreciated the government for creation of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), saying in other countries there are a maximum five to six dozens seed supplying and developing companies but in Pakistan at least 1,200 fake seed companies are operating. The government must take stern action against such fake companies which will help increase agriculture productivity. He also hailed the government for reducing taxes on the salaried class and asked the government to immediate reduce interest rate from 12 percent to 6-7 percent. The UBG leader stressed the need for a five-year industrial policy and reduction in electricity prices, saying a long-term industrial policy is the only way to put the country on the path of economic development. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Defence allocation raised to Rs2.557trn
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has increased the allocation for Defence Affairs and Services to Rs2,557.95 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26, showing a 20.2 percent rise from the original budget estimate of Rs2,128.78 billion for 2024-25 and a 16.8 percent increase from the revised estimate of Rs2,189.91 billion for the same year. This allocation represents 14.49 percent of the total budget outlay of Rs17.6573 trillion for FY2025–26, compared to 11.28 percent of the total budget outlay of Rs18.9 trillion in FY2024–25. The hike is attributed to ongoing inflationary pressures, sustained operational readiness requirements, and a recent escalation in border tensions with India, particularly skirmishes in the Sialkot and Neelum Valley sectors this year. These developments prompted renewed attention to military preparedness and deterrence across conventional and strategic levels. Pakistan budget 2025-26: Rs2.8 trillion defence budget proposed citing 'war-like situation' with India The allocation for defence services-a major component within the broader Defence Affairs and Services category-has been increased to Rs2,550 billion for FY2025-26. This marks a 20.2 percent rise over the original FY2024–25 budget of Rs2,122 billion and a 16.8 percent increase over the revised estimate of Rs2,181.5 billion. Within this amount, employee-related expenses have been raised to Rs846.03 billion from the Rs826.79 billion revised figure last year-an increase of approximately 2.3 percent. Operating expenses, which include fuel, rations, and training, have jumped to Rs704.4 billion, reflecting a 28.8 percent increase from the revised Rs547.01 billion. Physical assets (mainly arms and ammunition procurement) have been allocated Rs663.07 billion, up 20.5 percent from Rs550.19 billion last year. Civil works, covering construction and infrastructure maintenance, have seen a significant rise to Rs336.49 billion, up 30.6 percent from the revised allocation of Rs257.5 billion in FY2024–25. The budget for defence administration stands at Rs7.95 billion, a 5.5 percent decrease from the Rs8.42 billion revised estimate of the previous year. Meanwhile, the government has allocated Rs742 billion for pensions of retired military personnel, which is not included under Defence Affairs and Services. This is a 9.7 percent increase from the revised pension estimate of Rs676.08 billion for 2024–25 and a 12.1 percent rise from the original pension budget of Rs662 billion last year. Under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), defence-related allocations have been reduced. The Defence Division has received Rs6.03 billion for 2025–26, compared to Rs6.78 billion in FY2024–25, reflecting a decrease of 11 percent. The Defence Production Division has been allocated Rs1.79 billion, down 52.5 percent from last year's Rs3.77 billion. The Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which oversees key elements of the country's nuclear and strategic capabilities, received Rs5.42 billion, representing a 77.5 percent cut from the Rs24.1 billion allocated last year. The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has also seen its development allocation drop from Rs24.1 billion to Rs5.42 billion. Similarly, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) saw its development allocation fall from Rs184.6 billion to Rs133.4 billion, a 27.7 percent reduction. These significant cuts suggest either budgetary tightening or reclassification of sensitive projects outside public documentation, defence analyst stated. Other defence-related heads across the budget include Rs274.15 billion allocated to the Combined Civil Armed Forces, up 12.8 percent from Rs243.1 billion last year. The Federal Government Educational Institutions in Cantonments and Garrisons have been granted Rs21.2 billion, while the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) received Rs1.27 billion. Despite a reduction in the overall budget outlay from Rs18.9 trillion to Rs17.6 trillion, defence spending continues to expand, reflecting the government's prioritization of national security amid regional volatility. With the inclusion of pensions and PSDP allocations, total visible defence-related spending now exceeds Rs2.9 trillion, affirming the sector's central role in Pakistan's fiscal and strategic planning, defence analysts maintain. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
