In a significant move to overhaul Pakistan's energy landscape, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif granted in-principle approval for the formulation of a comprehensive National Energy Plan on Wednesday. The decision came during a high-level review meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, focusing on critical reforms in power transmission, pricing, and privatisation.
Blueprint for a Coordinated Energy Strategy
The Prime Minister directed all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments to work in close coordination to develop a viable and integrated strategy for the sector. Chairing the meeting on the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Energy, he also approved the establishment of a dedicated secretariat. This body will be tasked with supporting the formulation and implementation of the ambitious National Energy Plan.
A briefing during the meeting revealed that initial consultations with all concerned ministries are already underway for the plan's development. PM Shehbaz Sharif issued clear instructions to effectively incorporate recommendations from key ministries, including the Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries and Production, and the Ministry of Petroleum into the proposed policy framework.
Core Focus: Affordable Power for Industries and Consumer Facilitation
The Prime Minister emphasised that the proposed National Energy Plan must have a clear priority: providing electricity to industries at the lowest possible cost. He stressed that this is essential to enhance the country's industrial productive capacity and ensure competitive tariffs. Simultaneously, the plan must ensure improved facilitation for domestic consumers across Pakistan.
Highlighting recent progress, PM Shehbaz noted that reforms in the power transmission system have yielded visible improvements. He credited enhanced coordination among relevant entities and ministries for better service delivery to both household and industrial electricity consumers nationwide.
Transparency in Transmission and Push for DISCOs Privatisation
In a key decision aimed at promoting transparency and efficiency, the Prime Minister gave in-principle approval to the framework guidelines for the auction of wheeling charges for electricity transmission. This move is expected to introduce more market-driven mechanisms into the grid.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz Sharif issued special instructions for the swift and effective completion of the privatisation process of power distribution companies (DISCOs). This underscores the government's commitment to restructuring the loss-making power sector to improve its financial and operational performance.
The meeting was attended by a host of senior officials, including Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, the chief secretaries of all provinces, and other senior government officers.
