ISLAMABAD: The federal government is preparing to roll out a countrywide program aimed at replacing conventional alternating current (AC) fans with energy-efficient direct current (DC) fans, a move expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption and ease pressure on the national grid.
Announcing the initiative during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Power, Power Division Secretary Dr. Fakhray Alam Irfan said the project will be launched within the current financial year. The meeting was chaired by MNA Muhammad Idrees.
Under the initiative, consumers will be offered loans—funded by commercial banks—to replace old AC fans, with repayments to be made via electricity bills. The program is part of broader government efforts to promote energy conservation and enhance efficiency.
Dr. Irfan noted that major fan manufacturers have already begun shifting to DC fan production in collaboration with the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA). The program aims to save up to 5,000 MW of electricity, with AC fans currently consuming around 388 million units annually, costing approximately \$25 million.
In addition to the fan replacement scheme, the meeting highlighted implementation of energy-saving building codes in public sector institutions and called on provincial governments to adopt similar standards. The government is targeting \$6.4 billion in annual energy savings by 2030 through the enforcement of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).
The committee also reviewed challenges including electricity theft, faulty meters in Islamabad, and high losses at Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO). It was further revealed that power supply to K-Electric would be increased from 900 MW to 1,600 MW to reduce reliance on government subsidies.
