BAJAUR: A solar power project initiated by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) in 2019 to supply affordable and uninterrupted electricity to Khar Bazaar remains incomplete and non-operational even after seven years, despite repeated deadlines and partial completion, according to official sources and local traders.
The mini solar grid station is part of nine similar projects planned for the merged districts, aimed at easing power shortages and providing low-cost electricity to local communities. The overall cost of these schemes was estimated at around Rs575 million under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Annual Development Programme.
The Bajaur project, with a reported cost of Rs40 million, was originally scheduled for completion in 2024. However, it has yet to become operational despite most civil and installation work having been completed.
Sources said the facility includes a 175kV mini grid system, equipped with 324 solar panels of 580 watts each, along with a boundary wall and control room. However, the project continues to remain idle near Adil Chowk along the Shandi-Khar Bypass.
A PEDO official confirmed that while major construction work has been completed, the project could not be made operational due to multiple issues, including lack of funds for laying a 1-kilometre transmission line and resistance from local residents over the proposed route passing through private land.
The official also cited a design-related issue, stating that subsequent construction of the Khar Bypass lowered the ground level at the site, leading to rainwater accumulation that now threatens the installed solar infrastructure. He added that shifting or elevating the panels would require additional funding and fresh administrative approval.
Under the proposed operational plan, PEDO would initially manage the project for two years after activation, after which control would be handed over to a local committee comprising the assistant commissioner, additional deputy commissioner, and representatives of Khar Bazaar traders. Revenue from electricity sales—estimated at around Rs14 per unit—would be used for maintenance and staff salaries.
Local traders and community members have expressed frustration over prolonged delays. Former Khar Traders Association president Amir Rehman said repeated follow-ups with authorities in 2024 and 2025 failed to yield results, despite assurances of early completion.
Current traders’ body president Wajid Ali Shah said the absence of a dedicated PEDO field setup in Bajaur has further contributed to the delay in resolving operational issues.
Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan said that in a meeting held on February 4, 2026, PEDO officials agreed to begin site levelling work to prevent water accumulation and to initiate construction of the transmission line after an alternative route was identified.
He termed the continued non-functionality of the project due to “minor but unresolved issues” a matter of concern for the district administration and stressed the need for timely action to make the long-delayed scheme operational.
Story by Anwarullah Khan
