GILGIT: In the flood-ravaged valleys of Ghizer, where homes, roads, and livelihoods were washed away by this year’s devastating deluge, a new symbol of recovery has emerged, a 500kW community-run micro-hydro powerhouse that delivers not just electricity but resilience.
For residents like Fatima of Darkut, the change is immediate and profound. “My children can study at night without kerosene smoke choking the room. We use heaters for cooking and warmth. After the floods, this light means everything,” she said.
The project is no ordinary infrastructure scheme. Built and operated by locals under Silgan Electric Limited, a grassroots utility company, the powerhouse represents a rare model of self-reliance. “We’re powering schools, health centres, and small businesses,” explained Rahimullah, the company’s General Secretary. “This is our foundation for rebuilding—not just infrastructure, but confidence.”
Currently, the plant feeds into the government transmission line and is designed for expansion, eventually reaching some 1,300 consumers across two neighbouring villages. With a subsidised billing model, the company ensures electricity remains affordable, setting a precedent for other remote, climate-vulnerable regions.
The initiative was made possible through the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) under the Central Asia Poverty Programme (CAPP). At the inauguration, AKRSP Chairman Hussein Tejani lauded the project as a showcase of local determination. “In these challenging times, this community has shown how decentralised solutions can secure essential needs and drive recovery,” he said.
AKRSP’s work in Gilgit-Baltistan spans decades. Its 169 micro-hydro projects have already generated nearly 14,000kW of clean energy, transforming rural life while advancing local governance, gender inclusion, and environmental care. Building on that legacy, AKRSP has now launched the Madad Electric Cookstove (MEC) Project, in partnership with Third Pole Solutions, to distribute 50,000 clean cookstoves in electricity-surplus villages. The initiative seeks to cut deforestation, improve indoor air quality, and open new avenues for women-led energy entrepreneurship.
“We are not just producing electricity; we are producing resilience,” said AKRSP General Manager Jamil Uddin. “This is a proven model for communities to lead their own way out of crisis.”
As Gilgit-Baltistan struggles with the twin challenges of energy poverty and climate change, the Umalsat powerhouse offers more than just light. It provides a blueprint—crafted by local hands—for how communities can rebuild from disaster and chart their own future.
