ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: In a bold move that reflects the mounting pressure to reform the country’s beleaguered energy sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the Minister for Power Division, Awais Leghari, to engage stakeholders and submit recommendations to bring electricity wheeling charges to more “appropriate” levels.

This directive forms part of the government’s broader efforts to overhaul the country’s energy sector, which is seen as crucial for supporting the country’s economic growth.

The remarks from the PM came during a meeting of the Private Sector Working Group on Energy Sector for Economic Growth, which was convened to discuss proposed reforms within the energy sector.

Chaired by PM Sharif, the meeting discussed several critical issues, including energy tariff structures, electricity transmission, and system reliability.

In his remarks, Sharif emphasised the government’s ongoing focus on improving the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure.

He noted that particular attention is being given to ensuring that industries have access to energy at regionally competitive rates, a move designed to foster investment and economic activity.

“We are working on a comprehensive national programme for economic development, incorporating recommendations from various working groups,” Sharif said, underlining the importance of integrating private sector input into policy decisions.

During the meeting, the PM commended the efforts of the energy committee led by Shehzad Saleem, which has been instrumental in facilitating consultations with the private sector on energy-related matters.

Sharif highlighted that these consultations had resulted in valuable recommendations that would inform future energy policy.

The group’s recommendations, presented at the meeting, focused on adjusting the tariff structure, addressing the persistent challenges in electricity transmission, and improving the reliability of the power grid.

Other areas of concern included ensuring voltage stability and optimising electricity pricing to promote economic efficiency.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Finance Mohammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information AtaullahTarar, Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, and several other key officials.