Energy Minister Calls for Dialogue as Net Metering Surges to 2,500MW

Awais-Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, has called for broader consultation on net metering, which has now reached 2,500MW and is exerting a significant impact on the national grid. Speaking at a high-level consultative meeting held at the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), attended by solar industry experts, provincial representatives, and relevant government officials, the Minister clarified that while net metering is not being scrapped, the government is considering transitioning to a more transparent, effective, and sustainable net billing model. Leghari, who was instrumental in…

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NEPRA Raises Alarm Over 1,700MW Power Outage, Warns of Rising Consumer Burden

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has voiced serious concerns over the continued outage of over 1,700MW of low-cost electricity from two major government-owned power plants — Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHPP) and Guddu 747. The prolonged shutdowns are significantly increasing the financial burden on electricity consumers. In an official communication, NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar highlighted that the NJHPP, once expected to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, has faced two major shutdowns — from July 2022 to August 2023 and again since May 1, 2024. The latest closure…

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Punjab to Slash Power Tariffs Using Profits from State-Owned Power Plants

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LAHORE: In a major relief move, the Punjab government announced that it will finance a significant power tariff reduction by utilizing billions in profits and savings from two of its state-owned power companies — Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Pvt Ltd and Punjab Thermal Power Pvt Ltd. The provincial cabinet approved a 30-40% tariff cut for electricity generated by these plants, aligning with the federal government’s earlier initiative of renegotiating contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to lower costs. According to officials, both thermal power companies will forgo annual profits of Rs12-13…

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Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant to Add 1,200 MW Clean Energy to National Grid

Chashma-Nuclear

The under-construction Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant is poised to inject 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, safe, and low-cost electricity into Pakistan’s national grid, further strengthening the country’s energy mix. During a recent media briefing at the Chashma Nuclear Complex, General Manager Engineer Habibur Rehman shared updates on the project, underscoring Pakistan’s ambition to raise its nuclear power capacity to 8,000 MW. He emphasized the role of nuclear energy in ensuring a sustainable and affordable power supply. The Chashma-5 plant, based on the state-of-the-art Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor design, is a…

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Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Announces Plan to Establish Pakistan’s Own Shipping Line

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KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has announced that the government has agreed in principle to establish Pakistan’s own shipping line, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the country’s business community. The announcement came during the minister’s visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Head Office in Karachi, where he held an extensive consultative session with leading figures from the business, trade, and shipping sectors. Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of FPCCI, informed the media that the federal minister had endorsed the federation’s…

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