The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology was informed on Friday that share of renewable energy in the energy sector is up to six percent which is higher than the share of nuclear energy.

The committee met with MNA Sajid Mehdi in the chair in which the director general Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) apprised the committee of the working and performance of Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET).

He informed that at present the share of renewable energy in the energy sector is up to 6 percent, which is even higher than the share of nuclear energy and it is expected to reach 30 percent by 2030.

He further told the committee that there is zero tax on solar panels. Manufacturing of substandard solar panels especially from Afghanistan has minimized the quality as a result the PCSIR has proposed the establishment of an internationally accredited laboratory in Islamabad in collaboration with the PSQCR to regulate the production of these substandard solar panels.

The PCSIR has introduced a solar power rickshaw with a running timing of three hours and covering up to 70 kilometers distance. The PCSIR is also going to introduce the electric motorcycles and wheelchairs in near future.

The committee recommended that the renewable energy sector should be flourished as the construction of dams is too much expensive and time-consuming. The committee also decided to visit the PCSIR to practically examine the ongoing renewable energy projects. The committee further directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to fill up the vacant posts of the PCSIR on merit and submit its report to the committee.