Govt rules out new imported fuel-based IPPs, plans 10 million smart meters this year

Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari announced that the government would not establish any new imported fuel-based Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and planned to shift 10 million electricity consumers to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters during the current year.

Addressing a workshop on power sector fundamentals at Lahore University of Management Sciences, the minister said agreements with most IPPs had already been renegotiated, resulting in estimated savings of around ₨3.5 trillion for consumers over the next 10 to 15 years.

Leghari said the government was focusing on reforms aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs and modernising the electricity sector.

He stated that the recently introduced solar policy would not slow the pace of solarisation in the country, adding that the government was also encouraging investment in battery energy storage systems.

The minister further said efforts were underway to provide cheaper electricity to industrial and commercial consumers during daytime hours.

Speaking about media coverage of the sector, Leghari said misconceptions regarding the power sector often emerged from incomplete or inaccurate information.

He said reports based on “half-cooked information” failed to present the actual picture of the electricity sector and stressed the need for accurate and balanced reporting.

The workshop titled “Training Media Personnel on Power Sector Fundamentals” was organised to improve journalists’ understanding of Pakistan’s power sector and ongoing reforms.