Muhammad Ijaz Afridi
PESHAWAR: A technical audit of the 82kW hybrid solar power system installed at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy Peshawar, has revealed serious irregularities and concealed facts, according to an official letter from the Academy’s Director General to the Secretary of Energy & Power. Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to the Chief Secretary and the KP Anti-Corruption Department for further action.
The letter raises serious questions about the integrity and performance of the provincial energy department’s inspection team and warns that if an independent third-party audit is not conducted, the matter may be referred to the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court.
Documents indicate that under the KP Energy Development Organization’s (PEDO) solarization project, the 82kW solar system was installed at the Judicial Academy. The system was technically inspected on February 12, 2026, by the Deputy Electric Inspector and his team, accompanied by the Academy’s administrative officer.
During the inspection, multiple technical flaws were identified, including poor earthing, inverter installation and performance issues, lack of electrical safety measures, absence of protective equipment, poor cable management, and violations of relevant safety standards.
The letter emphasized that as a key institution for judicial training, such severe design and installation flaws could not only result in financial and operational losses but also pose risks to human life and property.
The provincial energy department’s officers were also criticized for neglecting their duties. According to the Academy’s administrative officer, the Deputy Electric Inspector failed to inspect solar panels and installations on hostel rooftops, claiming that defects found elsewhere likely reflected the rest of the system, and thus he avoided a full inspection. As a result, a significant portion of the system was left untested.
Despite the incomplete inspection, the final inspection report issued to the Academy omitted the serious flaws and gave the installation a clean bill of approval. The Judicial Academy described this as misleading reporting and raised serious concerns over the department’s investigative credibility, transparency, and impartiality.
The Academy has demanded that an independent third-party audit be conducted immediately by a neutral agency with no prior involvement in planning, supervision, or certification of the project. The audit should include a detailed review of earthing, electrical protection, inverter performance, and overall safety measures.
Additionally, the Academy has requested an investigation into why facts were concealed and the inspection remained incomplete on February 12, 2026, with accountability measures against responsible officers. The Academy has confirmed that its administrative officer is available to record statements for the investigation.
The letter gives the provincial government 15 days to commission the independent audit, warning that failure to comply will result in the matter being presented to the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court and the Chairperson of the Board of Governors. It further states that any future faults, accidents, misreporting, or concealment of facts will legally and financially be the responsibility of the inspection authority and certifying officers.
Copies of the letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary and KP Anti-Corruption Department for necessary action.
