Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said on Thursday that promoting solar energy is the need of hour and all sectors of our economy especially cell phone companies should adopt alternative energy to reduce pressure of energy crisis.
While presiding over a meeting on the conversion of all billboards and telephone towers on solar energy here, he expressed that alternative energy resources should be promoted in present scenario, as the country is facing extreme energy crunch by having shortfall of electricity, gas etc, which could only be averted by using alternative resources of energy in different sectors.
The minister said that cell phone companies will get benefits by converting on alternative energy although the cost of conversion is high, however in long term, benefits would offset the over all financial impact for this industry. Afridi said that solar operators are playing their role in social and economic sectors and cellular companies have potential to carry out conversion from grid to alternative energy. The minister stressed that all valuable stakeholders have to show their national and social responsibility towards energy conservation for being aware of prevailing situation of energy crises.
During the meeting it was also observed that alternative energy especially solar energy should be encouraged in every sector, and the usage of alternative energy will be mandatory for new cellular towers.
"Government wants to give incentives through the usage of alternative energy resources, and import duties in this regard would also be reduced at maximum level to make it cost effective", Afridi added. Federal Secretary for Environment, Khawaja Naeem Additional Secretary Kamran Ali Qureshi, Managing Director Enercon Fareed Ullah Khan, representative of Ministry of I.T, IESCO, PTA and cellular Companies were present in the meeting and they exchanged their views in this regard.-PR