NGC to roll out new grid model from July

Reforms target legacy NTDC inefficiencies, with full digital maturity planned by end-2026

ISLAMABAD:

The National Grid Company of Pakistan Limited (NGC) will launch a new operating model for the country's power transmission system from July 1, 2026, as part of a broader restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and reliability.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy on Saturday, the update was shared during a briefing to Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, where NGC officials said the reform initiative, launched in January 2026, was progressing as planned.

The minister reiterated the government's support for the transformation, describing it as a step toward strengthening the power sector. He noted the company's focus on efficiency, transparency and accountability, and said such reforms were necessary to modernise the national energy infrastructure. The transformation is being led by Managing Director Engr Altaf Hussain Malik. He said the initiative aimed to develop a future-ready utility aligned with international practices to ensure a more efficient and reliable transmission system.

The reform is designed to address structural issues inherited from the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), established in 1998. Despite NGC's evolution into a dedicated transmission service provider, its operational framework remained tied to the earlier model, resulting in inefficiencies and coordination gaps.

The restructuring is based on six pillars, including unified operations leadership to improve project execution, stronger financial management for greater transparency, dedicated regulatory and stakeholder coordination, independent safety oversight, streamlined internal processes and the use of modern digital systems for real-time grid management.