ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted in principle approval for the formulation of a comprehensive National Energy Plan and directed all federal ministries and provincial governments to work in close coordination to develop a unified and sustainable strategy for Pakistan’s energy sector.
The approval was accorded while chairing a high level review meeting on the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub Committee on Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office. The meeting reviewed key reform proposals covering power transmission pricing mechanisms sector efficiency and privatization aimed at addressing long standing structural challenges in the energy sector.
To ensure effective implementation the prime minister also approved the establishment of a dedicated secretariat that will support the formulation execution and monitoring of the National Energy Plan. He emphasized that the plan must be forward looking data driven and aligned with national economic and industrial priorities.
During the meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave in principle approval to the framework guidelines for the auction of wheeling charges. He said transparent and competitive wheeling arrangements would promote efficiency in electricity transmission and encourage private sector participation while reducing system losses.
The prime minister stressed that the core objective of the National Energy Plan should be to provide electricity to industries at the lowest possible cost to enhance productivity competitiveness and exports. He also directed that domestic consumers must benefit from improved service delivery and better facilitation under the reformed energy framework.
He instructed that recommendations from the ministries of climate change finance industries and petroleum be fully integrated into the policy to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach. Special directions were also issued for the early and effective completion of the privatization process of power distribution companies to improve governance and financial sustainability.
Highlighting recent progress Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that reforms in the power transmission system had already resulted in visible improvements. He said enhanced coordination among ministries and energy sector institutions had improved electricity services for both industrial and household consumers across the country.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema provincial chief secretaries and senior government officials.
