Solar water heaters introduced

Chitral -- German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in collaboration with Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) started dissemination of solar water heating systems in Chitral.  Firstly entrepreneurs were developed and then they have been given on job installation trainings of the systems. To attract the locals, GIZ provided the 30% subsidy on the SWHs cost for the first five solar water heater pilot projects. Solar water heating systems were installed for the domestic use as well as commercial installations were also the part of dissemination of the SWHs in different hotels of Chitral.
 

 Technical personal Mohammad Saeed of GIZ briefed the participants of the launching function about the technology and solar water heater users shared their experience with the audience. Shahzada Mudasirul Mulk, chief executive of Creative Approaches for Development (CAD), highlighted benefits of solar energy system in Chitral. He said by adopting solar appliances our forests can be saved from ruthless cutting.

 It may be mentioned that quality solar water heaters were first installed at the Hindukush Heights  hotel last year, by its owner Shahzada Siraj ul Mulk and the experiment proved a success leading to furthering of the usage of this technology by NGOs. It is hoped that the NGOs would actively participate in promoting solar energy lighting and water heating which can upgrade to some extent the poor quality of living standards of the locals. --GH Farooqi, 14 Apr 2011.