Govt to shift high-loss power feeders to solar energy

PM Shehbaz orders immediate pilot projects for loss-making electricity feeders of PESCO and QESCO

The federal government has decided to convert electricity feeders operating at heavy losses to solar power as part of efforts to improve electricity supply and curb financial losses in the energy sector.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which reviewed ongoing power sector reforms and strategies to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly in remote areas.

The prime minister directed that high-loss feeders be shifted to solar energy in coordination with local communities and provincial governments, saying the move would help reduce losses while ensuring a reliable power supply in affected regions.

He also ordered the immediate launch of pilot projects for loss-making feeders of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), stressing that consultations with elected representatives and active community participation were essential for the projects’ success.

Officials briefed the meeting that converting these feeders to solar power would lead to the development of environment-friendly, low-cost and sustainable microgrids, with local communities, provincial governments and the federal government as key stakeholders. They added that the initiative would not only provide affordable electricity but also significantly reduce future financial losses of power distribution companies.

PM Shehbaz approved the plan and instructed authorities to begin work on the pilot projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan without delay.