ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed relevant authorities to expedite the privatization and outsourcing process of power distribution companies (Discos) in order to overcome its losses.
During a high-level meeting regarding the power sector, he emphasized the need for private sector expertise and globally accepted models and urged for improvements in the management of the distribution companies.
Moreover, he instructed the preparation and presentation of a comprehensive plan in the next meeting to enhance the power system nationwide.
Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted that reforms in the power sector would contribute to reducing the country’s circular debt and vowed to combat electricity theft and other elements harming the national treasury.
The meeting also discussed recommendations and measures to prevent power theft, reorganize the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), and initiate new electricity transmission projects.
Plans for constructing the Matiari-Rahim Yar Khan and Ghazi Barotha-Faisalabad transmission lines were presented to ensure efficient power transmission from the southern part of the country.
A comprehensive strategy for the reorganization of NTDC was outlined to bring about reforms in the power transmission system and minimize government circular debts.
Prime Minister Sharif stressed the importance of completing all reform initiatives within the stipulated time frame.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahad Khan Cheema, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Dr. Musadik Malik, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ataullah Tarar, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, former power minister Muhammad Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, Member of National Assembly Bilal Azhar Kayani, Engineer Qamar ul Islam, Rana Ehsan Afzal, Salman Ahmed, and other concerned officials.
