50,000 solar systems to arrive in Karachi by October-end: CM

Sindh Chief Minister SSindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shahyed Murad Ali Shah announced on Saturday that the first batch of 50,000 solar house systems (SHS) would arrive in Karachi by the end of October.

Speaking at a ceremony for the signing of framework agreements for solar systems, he said 200,000 solar house systems would be provided to low-income households selected through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) data in all districts of the province.

The ceremony was held at the Chief Minister House and was attended by Minister for Energy Syed Nasir Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Energy Secretary Musadiq Khan, representatives of three private companies selected through competitive provinces, and other officers.

The chief minister said that the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP) was being executed for Rs27.4 billion with the World Bank’s $100 million financial support. According to the CM Component III of the SSEP, 200,000 solar home systems would be provided to low-income households in all districts of the province under the BISP data.

He said that the SHS would consist of an 80-100 watt solar PV plate, a minimum 18 AH lithium-ion battery, one DC fan, three LED bulbs, and a mobile charging facility. The SHS set was shown to the CM which he approved.

He disclosed that the system’s estimated cost, including transport, taxes, and duties, was around Rs55,000. It would be provided to eligible low-income families at an 80 percent subsidy.

The chief minister shared the criteria, saying that low-income households have been selected using the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) register of low-income households as the criteria for household eligibility; the poverty scorecard ranging from 21 to 50 has been initially used.

The BISP data ranging from 0-20 are those households having no capacity of paying at least Rs6,000 for a solar home system kit, he said and added that these poorest households would be provided solar kits under the Annual Development Programme (ADB scheme) of the Energy Department.

Shah said that the programme was started in 2020, but the subsidy was 40 percent, and the poor people were unable to pay the 60 percent costs. He added that under the old programme, only 322 systems were sold. “Now, with the support of the WB, the subsidy amount has been increased up to 80 percent, but the programme was delayed due to the devastating floods in 2022 and COVID-19.

He further said that the project strategy was revised with an increase in subsidies,

and the Bulk Procurement Model was adopted. He added that 10 districts were selected in the original project, but under the revised programme, all 30 districts, including seven districts of Karachi, have been included.

The CM said that the implementation strategy was being changed to the “Bulk Procurement Model” through international bidding, in accordance with World Bank procurement guidelines. The beneficiaries will be charged a small amount of Rs6,000, he said.

Through the international bidding process under WB regulations, framework agreements will be signed with the selected firms for the supply of 200,000 SHS kits in different batches based on requirements throughout the project time period, July 2025.

Minister for Energy Nasir Shah said that in the bidding process, 18 local and international firms participated, and of them three firms were qualified to sign the framework agreements. The companies include M/S Bboxx Ltd, UK; M/S Shenzen LEMI Technology Development Co. Ltd, China and M/S D.light Design Ltd, USA.

He told the CM that five NGOs working under the Sindh Peoples Housing Foundation Project (SPHF) had been contracted under the WB Direct Contracting Method, which would be responsible for collecting SHS from appointed warehouses, distribution, installation and replacement service.

The energy minister said that the Rs6,000 per SHS would be received from the beneficiary through a bank challan receipt of Sindh Bank Limited by these distribution organisations before the delivery of the system. He added that a database management system has been developed through the web portal for the coordination of stakeholders and transparency of the programme execution.

The CM directed Nasir Shah to appoint independent verification agents (IVAs) to carry out random checks to ensure that SHS is only being distributed to eligible households, to follow up on any reported issues, and to ensure compliance by NGOs.

The minister told the CM that a dedicated helpline Number 021-111-222-262 was acquired to register the complaints.