LAHORE: Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Awais Leghari on Tuesday announced that Pakistan will not establish any new imported fuel-based Independent Power Producers (IPPs), as the government moves toward a more sustainable and cost-effective energy mix.
Speaking at a workshop on power-sector fundamentals at Lahore University of Management Sciences, the minister also revealed that the government plans to shift around 10 million electricity consumers to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters during the current year to improve efficiency, transparency, and power management.
Leghari said the government had already renegotiated agreements with most IPPs, resulting in projected savings of nearly Rs3.5 trillion for consumers over the next 10 to 15 years.
He stressed that many misconceptions about Pakistan’s power sector arise from incomplete or inaccurate information and criticised reports based on “half-cooked information” that fail to present the full picture of the sector’s challenges and reforms.
“The media must communicate accurate and balanced information regarding the power sector,” the minister said, adding that the government remains committed to ensuring transparency and factual public awareness.
The workshop, titled “Training Media Personnel on Power Sector Fundamentals,” was organised to improve journalists’ understanding of the electricity sector, tariff mechanisms, energy reforms, and future policy direction.
Discussing renewable energy, the minister said the recently introduced solar policy would not hinder the pace of solar adoption across the country. Instead, he said, the government was actively encouraging investment in battery energy storage systems to strengthen grid stability and support renewable integration.
Leghari further stated that the government was working on measures to provide cheaper electricity to industrial and commercial consumers during daytime hours in an effort to support economic activity and industrial competitiveness.
