Pakistan sets up first Data Governance Council for power sector

Pakistan’s power sector has moved toward digital transformation with the establishment of the country’s first Data Governance Council, aimed at creating a unified, secure and globally aligned data ecosystem across the energy sector.

The Power Division said the council has been constituted under the leadership of Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari as part of institutional reforms to improve transparency, planning, decision-making and investor confidence in the electricity sector.

According to the Power Division, the council includes representatives from major power-sector entities, including generation companies (GENCOs), distribution companies (DISCOs), transmission companies and regulatory institutions. The initiative has also been developed in consultation with the Pakistan Digital Authority.

Officials said data from key power-sector institutions will be harmonised through a coordinated governance framework, replacing fragmented systems that previously operated separately across the sector.

The move is expected to address issues linked to inconsistent datasets, weak quality-control mechanisms and inadequate data-security practices, which often led to conflicting reports and affected policy formulation.

The Power Division said the lack of synchronised data had affected planning, investment decisions and operational efficiency across the sector. The new framework is intended to ensure that all stakeholders rely on a single source of verified information.

The council has been structured in line with the internationally recognised DAMA-DMBOK data management framework to align Pakistan’s power-sector governance with global practices.

As part of its mandate, the council will oversee the development of a centralised data repository that will serve as the sector’s authoritative platform for collecting, managing and validating critical information.

Officials said the repository will consolidate data from across the power value chain, allowing policymakers, regulators, planners, utilities and investors to access consistent information for decision-making.

The initiative is expected to improve demand forecasting, infrastructure planning, risk identification, operational efficiency and resource allocation.

The government also expects the framework to support foreign investment by providing investors with access to verified sectoral data and reducing information gaps.

A Power Division spokesperson described data as a critical national asset and said the establishment of the Data Governance Council would support transparent and effective governance, Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda and the sustainability of the energy sector.