ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Thursday held a meeting with a Canadian delegation led by High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan to discuss avenues for bilateral cooperation and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy sector.
At the outset, the Canadian envoy conveyed the interest of Canadian companies in Pakistan’s power generation segment. Minister Leghari clarified that the government is not pursuing additional generation capacity, emphasizing that the real investment potential now lies in transmission, grid modernization, and advanced technologies.
Following the minister’s briefing, the Canadian side also expressed interest in the transmission sector and sought details of viable investment models. It was agreed that the Power Division would share project opportunities in transmission infrastructure, renewable energy, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to fast-track practical collaboration.
Leghari highlighted Pakistan’s transition toward a competitive electricity market, where the traditional government power purchase model will gradually phase out, creating greater space for private sector participation. He noted that the Pakistan Business Council has also shown interest in transmission projects under the PPP framework, signalling potential areas for partnership with Canadian firms.
The minister briefed the delegation on the utility-scale solar project in Gilgit-Baltistan, where feasibility work is nearing completion and around 85 MW of demand has been identified across multiple sites—offering a promising investment window. He also outlined opportunities in Gwadar’s energy and infrastructure development.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing all future initiatives under the Least Cost principle, Leghari said BESS presents significant potential for strengthening system reliability and flexibility.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination, enhance technical cooperation, and continue exchanging project details to advance Canadian investment in Pakistan’s evolving energy landscape.
