In a significant boost to Pakistan's industrial infrastructure, the National Grid Company (NGC) has successfully powered up the new 220kV Quaid-e-Azam Business Park Grid Station in Sheikhupura. This strategic development is a major milestone in expanding the country's power transmission network, specifically designed to meet the high-voltage electricity demands of large industries within the Sheikhupura Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
A Strategic Power Hub for Industrial Growth
Built at a cost exceeding Rs4 billion, the project was financed by the Government of Pakistan under the Cash Deposit Loan (CDL) Facility. Its primary objective is to guarantee a reliable and uninterrupted power supply to industrial consumers, which is critical for business operations, expansion, and overall economic development. NGC's Managing Director, Engr Altaf Hussain Malik, commended the project team on their successful execution, highlighting their professionalism and technical skill.
Engr Malik emphasized that robust power infrastructure is fundamental for attracting investment and generating employment. He stated that the Business Park Grid Station has been strategically designed to support long-term industrial growth and foster inclusive socio-economic progress in the region.
Technical Specifications and Regional Impact
The newly energized grid station boasts a substantial transformation capacity of 500 MVA at the 220/132kV level. It is supported by approximately 4 kilometers of dedicated 220kV transmission lines that connect it to the regional grid. This configuration is engineered to enhance overall system stability, improve voltage profiles, and provide the necessary resilience to handle heavy industrial electrical loads and future demand increases.
A notable achievement is that this is the first grid station commissioned exclusively for a Special Economic Zone in Pakistan. Its activation is expected to significantly reduce the operational burden on existing grid stations in Sheikhupura, Kala Shah Kaku, Bandala (Faisalabad), and other nearby industrial zones.
Project Leadership and Broader Grid Strengthening
The project was delivered under the leadership of Engr Rashid A. Bhutto, Deputy Managing Director (Asset Development & Management), and Engr Muhammad Shahid Nazir, General Manager (Project Delivery) North. The core project team included Engr Asghar Mujtaba Khan, Engr Muhammad Usman Warraich, Engr Ahmad Umar Dewan, along with Sub-Divisional Engineers Rana Muhammad Zahid Hafeez and Sadaqat Ali, and their respective technical units.
This development follows closely on the heels of another major infrastructure achievement by NGC—the energization of the 500kV Lahore North Grid Station last month. These consecutive projects underscore NGC's sustained momentum in strengthening the national grid, enhancing system resilience, and ensuring a reliable power supply to fuel industrial growth and meet rising regional demand.
The new grid station is projected to bring substantial benefits, including:
- Enhanced supply reliability for factories, reducing costly downtime.
- Improved productivity and better cost efficiency for industrial consumers.
- Reduction in technical losses within the power system.
- Encouragement of new investments and acceleration of industrial expansion.
- Support for job creation and stronger supply chains, contributing to broader economic development.
