Affordable electricity top priority: minister

The Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, stressed on Monday that providing affordable electricity to the public through the implementation of energy reforms is a top priority for the government.

In an interview with a private news channel, Leghari stated that the government is carefully reviewing the issues of independent power producers (IPPs) and plans to reduce electricity prices through dialogue and consultation with them.

"The government's priority is to look after the interests of the people, not any elites or capitalists," he added.

Discussing hydropower projects, Leghari said, "About 10,000 megawatts will be added to the system through these projects."

"The government, by identifying and fixing the fault lines in the power sector, will be able to generate cheap electricity," he added.

Addressing a query about talks with China, the minister highlighted, "The re-profiling of debt is a key aspect, which is expected to reduce electricity prices and increase demand for electricity."

Another key component of these reforms involves converting electricity generation plants from imported coal to local coal, which could significantly lower the cost per unit of electricity, he noted.

The minister emphasised the government's commitment to power sector reforms and expressed confidence that these measures would address ongoing challenges and stabilise the financial structure of the sector. "The government is committed to safeguarding lower-income electricity users, emphasising that this protection remains a top priority," he concluded.