KARACHI: Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Wednesday said that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had become the country’s first municipal council to transition to solar energy. “The installation of a solar energy system at the KMC building will reduce the financial burden on the corporation by millions of rupees,” he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating the project. “The surplus electricity generated by the system will be sold to K-Electric.” He said the KMC started converting four hospitals and street lights on three major roads under its administrative control into solar energy as part of its efforts to reduce electricity costs and promote environmental sustainability. “With the support of the Sindh government, we are converting four KMC hospitals and street lights over three major roads under solar-powered system. The work on all projects is expected to be completed by January.” Says four hospitals, street lights on three major roads to run on solar energy He said that the KMC building was now powered by solar energy with the introduction of a 150-kW solar system, and 80-kW of electricity had been shifted to net metering with K-Electric. The KMC had also completed the installation of solar panels at Kidney Hill Park and other recreational places, and roads would be shifted to solar power in the future, he added. “A total of 259 solar plates have been installed on the roof of the KMC building, producing around 650 to 700 units of electricity daily,” he said. He said major cities worldwide were adopting alternative energy sources such as solar panels, wind energy, and other modern systems. “Solar energy is especially easy to harness in Pakistan’s climate,” he added. The mayor said that the efforts were also being made at the provincial level to increase the use of solar panels, which were commendable. The projects, he said, were being carried out in different districts under annual development programme, including Baldia Town and Keamari. “We are executing some projects independently, while others in collaboration with the Sindh government,” he said, adding: “The projects like the Malir Expressway and the Korangi Causeway are close to completion. Despite challenges posed by those who seek to disrupt development with hate and ethnicity-driven politics, I appeal people to focus on the city’s progress.”