Projects completed for Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED)
1. HBL Microfinance Bank, Gilgit:
Completed the Solar Photo Voltaic study for the project and advised the design team on the requirements of the Solar PV system for the building. According to The.Ismaili this building “has earned the LEED Gold certification and EDGE Advanced certification, one of the first buildings in the country to achieve this. The building is well equipped to produce 40 percent of the electricity required for its day-to-day functions”.
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2. Pamir Energy (PE), Murghab Solar PV Plant:
During Faruq’s assignment with the Murghab solar project, PE was mostly generating electricity via hydro turbines. Murghab district is the coldest region in Tajikistan, with an average winter temperature of -20°C and over seven months of winter. Energy production in Murghab district has always posed a challenge for PE due to its climate and terrain. Hydropower is very difficult to generate in the winter months when most of the rivers are running low or are completely frozen. Days when hydro is not available, the locals would resort to fossil fuels such as wood or diesel for heating and electricity.
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PE had to diversify and bring solar energy to the area to support their Hydro operations. Solar works more efficiently the colder it gets and higher up the mountain you have your installations. It is the ideal technology for Tajikistan and other mountainous regions in which our Jamat lives and AKDN operates.
Faruq was requested to assist the PE team on their very first solar project located in Murghab. Since then, he has supported PE on several 5MW project evaluations in Tajikistan, scouting for a two MW plant site in Syria and the one MW site in Duiker Pakistan (see below).
3. NPAK Energy, a subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) – Duiker Solar Plant, Hunza, Pakistan
Faruq was requested by Pamir Energy to evaluate the energy yield of four potential sites in the Hunza area. Land is very difficult to find in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Good land is reserved mostly for agriculture. Solar takes up a lot of land so the only open spaces available were on top of mountains, where the land has no value for agriculture or animal feed.
PE had shortlisted four potential sites that needed to be evaluated for energy potential based on location, snow accumulation, shading from the nearby mountains, etc. Duiker was selected for the first major solar PV installation in Pakistan.
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4. Serena Hotels – Pakistan
Faruq completed several assignments for Serena hotels in Pakistan based in Islamabad, Faisalabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Hunza and Peshawar.
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5. Roshan Telecom – Kabul, Afghanistan
This was a month long assignment for Faruq in Kabul to evaluate the Solar PV requirements for over 700 sites operated by Roshan Telecom. As all the sites had diesel generators to power the telecom towers, Faruq’s assignment was to assist Roshan in developing a strategy to generate all the power requirements using solar and batteries. Diesel generators would then go on emergency standby mode.
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Projects completed for Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS)
1. Aliabad Health Centre
Faruq has completed several projects for AKHS in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Syria, Kenya and Tanzania. The Aliabad Health Centre was recently inaugurated by Princess Zahra. The facility is located on the same grounds where Hazar Imam gave the Diamond Jubilee Didar to over 100,000 murids. This facility is located on the Karakoram Highway that links China and Pakistan.
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2. Other Projects completed for AKHS
- Bamyan Hospital, Afghanistan
- Singul Medical Clinic, Pakistan
- Mwanza Medical Clinic, Tanzania
- Kisumu Hospital, Kenya
- Mombasa Hospital, Kenya
- Salamieh Medical Clinic, Syria
Projects completed for Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH)
1. Aga Hall Estate, Mumbai
Rooted in history, the Aga Hall Estate was established in 1848. The estate stands as a testament to heritage and sophistication, having been home to Mawlana Ali Shah, Aga Khan II; and Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III.
The project will feature a Jamatkhana at its heart along with eight meticulously designed gardens that cover more than half of the estate’s total area. The Aga Khan Development Network will also develop a state-of-the-art hospital across the street and an IB school adjacent to the towers.
In recognition of its eco-friendly credentials—including reduced waste and emissions, and improved indoor environmental quality—the project has been certified by both the World Bank through its recognised EDGE rating system and the Indian Green Buildings Council through its Platinum Pre-Certification for sustainable development.
Faruq Vishram’s role was to provide as much solar PV power as possible for the various roof top gardens to enable the project to get the EDGE and Green Building certifications.
Aga Hall
2. Other Projects ongoing or completed for AKAH
- Field offices in Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Village Power for Afghanistan and Pakistan
- AKF building in Aswan Egypt
Projects for Aga Khan University (AKU)
- Dar-es-Salaam Hospital
- Karachi Hospital – 3MW Project – largest in the AKDN.
- FMIC Kabul
Jamatkhana Projects:
- Jamatkhana in Afghanistan
- Jamatkhana in Pakistan
- Jamatkhana in Canada
Delegation Building, Canada
Project for Aga Khan Schools (AKS):
- Mombasa Academy
- Maputo Academy
- Dhaka Academy
- Hyderabad Academy
Faruq Vishram’s outstanding and extensive TKN voluntary service is immensely appreciated by the many institutions he has served with. It is indeed exemplary that he continues to be engaged on several TKN assignments in an area of expertise, Power and Solar Systems, that is so critical for long- term global energy efficiency. He is indeed a champion and role model in this noble mission.
