The Punjab government has initiated a program to distribute free solar systems to eligible households across the province.
According to official documents, the initiative targets 50,000 households that consume up to 100 units of electricity per month. The provincial government will cover all associated costs, including the solar system and its installation, and consumers must register via SMS.
The total budget allocated for this project is 10 billion rupees. Households with a record of electricity theft, meter tampering, or those already benefiting from other government schemes will be ineligible for this program.
To register, eligible consumers must send their electricity bill reference number and national ID card number to the shortcode 8800. The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will receive consumer data using less than 100 units for initial screening.
After the NTC verifies the data, it will be forwarded to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) for further processing. The PITB will then compile the final lists of eligible households and coordinate with district administrations to distribute the solar systems.
Furthermore, the Department of Energy has received approval to establish a Project Management Unit to oversee the implementation of this initiative, which is slated to commence with the new fiscal year on July 1.
