DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa department of energy has clarified that its flagship initiative to provide free solar systems to poor families was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, who personally oversaw the selection of beneficiaries through an online e-balloting system.
The department firmly rejected allegations of irregularities and financial corruption in the project, terming them baseless and misleading.
The department said in a press statement issued here on Monday that the project, which aims to provide free solar systems to 130,000 poor and middle-class families, was being implemented by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), a subsidiary of the energy department.
The department clarified that no financial disbursement or contractor allotment had taken place under the project to date.
“The claims of corruption are unfounded. The project is still in the early stages and all procedures are being carried out in line with transparency and merit,” the statement read.
The first phase of the project was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, who oversaw the selection of beneficiaries through an online e-balloting system.
The chief minister also directed that the public welfare initiative be expedited to benefit eligible families as early as possible.
The department further stated that the estimated rates for the project have been prepared strictly according to the Market Rate System (MRS) 2024 – First Half and the approved Market Rate Analysis of the finance department.
The procurement process was being carried out under Section 22 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KPPRA) Act, which permits advance purchases subject to the availability of funds.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had also been signed between PEDO and the Bank of Khyber (BoK) to support the implementation of the project.
The department reiterated its commitment to transparency, merit-based execution, and quality assurance in public sector initiatives. “We are fully aligned with the vision of the provincial government and are following a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption,” the statement added.
