ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the formulation of a comprehensive National Energy Plan, marking a major stride toward an integrated energy strategy aimed at lowering power costs and enhancing sector efficiency.
At a Cabinet Sub‑Committee on Energy meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister also approved the establishment of a dedicated secretariat to oversee the plan’s development and implementation, Radio Pakistan reported.
He emphasised that the proposed strategy should ensure the provision of electricity to industries at the lowest possible cost while improving facilitation for domestic consumers.
The meeting granted in‑principle approval to framework guidelines for the auction of wheeling charges—a move expected to promote transparency and efficiency in the transmission segment of the power sector.
The prime minister directed all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments to present a coordinated, workable strategy under the National Energy Plan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also instructed that recommendations from the Ministries of Climate Change, Finance, Industries and Production, and Petroleum be fully incorporated into the plan. Additionally, he issued special instructions to expedite the privatisation of power distribution companies (DISCOs) to enhance market competitiveness and reduce financial burden on the sector.
Highlighting recent progress, he noted improvements in the electricity transmission system and stressed that strengthened coordination among ministries and relevant entities has led to better services for both household and industrial energy consumers nationwide.
Officials informed the meeting that initial consultations with all ministries are already underway for the formulation of the National Energy Plan.
In February this year, Pakistan developed a new energy policy aiming to help the country attract $5 billion in investment through public-private partnerships.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, proposed establishing a regional energy market, modelled on the European Energy Grid, aiming to help countries in the region fully utilise their renewable and conventional energy resources.
The Minister presented the proposal during a meeting in Islamabad with the Minister for Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ibrarv Taalaibek Omukeevich, this month.
In November, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a loan worth $330 million for Pakistan’s Second Power Transmission Strengthening Project, a priority initiative aimed at expanding the national grid and enabling the evacuation of low-cost clean energy to major load centres.
