7,00 villages to be electrified with solar0 power: Ashraf

 SHARM AL SHEIKH: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that 7,000 villages will be electrified using solar energy in the next five years.

He was addressing the representatives of more than 120countries in the second session of the preparatory commission of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), held in Sharm Al Sheikh, says a fax message received from Cairo, Egypt.

He said that Pakistan has also set a target to add 5% approximately 10,000 MW electricity through renewable energies by year 2030 besides replacement of 5% diesel with bio-diesel by year 2015 and 10% by 2025.

Pervez Ashraf said "We need to develop global financial mechanism that responds to the special requirements of the renewable energy sector."

He said that if level playing field is provided to the renewable energy sector, it will prove least expensive, environment friendly and the most sustainable resources of energy.

He extended full support of Pakistan to the newly perceived IRENA. He also took part in the voting proceedings for the selections of the place for Headquarter of IRENA and the election of its Director General.

A newly conceived, carbon neutral and modern city of UAE, Masdar is also one of the hotly contested places for the IRENA Headquarter.

The minister highlighted the commitment of Pakistan in the area of renewable energy. He said that renewable energy technologies would be an essential element in Pakistan's energy future by making contribution to the diversity and security of energy supply.