ADB backs shift to indigenous power

Offers technical assistance for AMI meters, battery storage studies as minister seeks NGC restructuring support

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari held a meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Emma Xiaoqin Fan to discuss ongoing reforms and future cooperation in the power sector, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The minister said Pakistan's power sector has recently shown strong resilience despite global energy challenges, adding that this stability is due to greater use of indigenous resources including local coal, hydel and solar energy. He said the government is focused on increasing the share of indigenous fuel for power generation to keep electricity prices affordable.

Fan acknowledged the government's proactive measures and noted that these efforts in the power sector have significantly improved the overall resilience of the national economy. She said ADB is interested in deep diving into the requirements of the energy sector and supporting newer initiatives such as digitisation, integrated planning, data governance, privatisation and institutional governance in Pakistan.

She shared that ADB is already providing technical assistance for Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters and is conducting studies on the impact of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the power sector. She also highlighted capacity building programmes, including specialised training opportunities in Korea for power sector professionals to build skills and support reforms.

The minister stressed that the selection process for such programmes should be fair and transparent, adding that professionals equipped with modern skills will help drive institutional improvements. He also stressed the importance of the National Grid Company (NGC) and sought necessary support for its restructuring.

He said the government has engaged the Pakistan Business Council to encourage investment in the transmission sector, adding that the focus will shift more towards transmission after privatisation.

Fan said the ADB vice president is expected to visit Pakistan later this month. The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to continue close cooperation for a modern, efficient and sustainable power sector in Pakistan.