State government of Punjab in Pakistan has forged a partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop 2,000MW of solar energy in the state within two years.
The first solar project under the collaboration is expected to be completed within a year. Developments follow a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and ADB delegation at Model Town, Lahore on 22 June 2013.
Welcoming the move in solar energy sector, Sharif urged that the projects should be concluded as soon as possible in a bid to narrow down electricity crisis in the state.
Sharif further added that load shedding caused huge damage to agriculture, industry and economy and the government has the only option to reduce energy crisis.
Asian Development Bank senior advisor Chin Fong noted that alongside solar energy, the bank would also extend its support in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro energy projects, besides putting its efforts to complete the first project at the earliest.