Mosques to go solar in Pakistan

The project, which is expected to be completed by July 2007, will power each mosque wiwth a 200-watt photovoltaic system that will be enough to provide electricity for four light bulbs and amplifier and  two fans.

The PCRET is an Environmental Agency manned by 15 people and aiming to "organize, coordinate and promote research and development in the various fields within the concept of Renewable Energy", among other tasks. It was created by the merging of the National Institute of Silicon Technology (NIST) and Pakistan Council for Appropriate Technologies (PCAT).

"The villages selected have no electricy and have not been included in the Government's priority list for rural electrification in the last 20 years" said last week a PRCRET Official. "Many people from Pakistan's rural areas have no access to electricity" he added, something that is well known by international agencies. The Peninsula, one of Qatar's leading newspaper has informed that the Pakistani government is investing in projects like this in order to increase Pakistan's standard of living, health and education by having available electricity.

For additional information:

www.pcret.gov.pk/