ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed concerned authorities to accelerate wide-ranging power sector reforms, with a special focus on the privatisation of power distribution companies (Discos) and generation companies (Gencos), terming it a key step towards resolving Pakistan’s energy challenges.
Chairing a high-level meeting, the prime minister underscored that privatisation and the creation of a competitive electricity market offered a sustainable, long-term solution to inefficiencies in the power sector. He was informed that expressions of interest (EoIs) for the privatisation of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) and Gujranwala Electric Supply Company (GEPCO) would be invited shortly.
To modernise the electricity system, the prime minister directed the initiation of a Battery Energy Storage System through public-private partnerships. The meeting reviewed progress on the power sector roadmap, power generation and distribution reforms, and the privatisation process.
Participants were also told that the PC-I of the 500kV Ghazi Barotha–Faisalabad transmission line is at the approval stage. Additionally, technical feasibility for shifting imported fuel-based power plants to Thar coal has been completed, while work on the railway line for transporting Thar coal to power plants is underway.
