Islamabad: Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, briefed a European Union delegation on ongoing reforms in Pakistan’s power sector, outlining four key areas for modernization and inviting European investment in privatization and infrastructure projects.

According to Press Information Department, the Minister emphasized the importance of digitizing the national grid, focusing on smart meters, upgrading transmission lines, integrating battery storage systems, and local manufacturing of power equipment. He highlighted opportunities for European firms in the privatization of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), encouraging their participation in the bidding process.

Minister Leghari also discussed plans to divest old RFO-based power plants. By excluding around 7,000 megawatts of high-cost power plants from the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), Pakistan has reportedly saved $17 billion.

The EU delegation, including Thouraya Trimou, Director of the European Investment Bank, and Ram?nas Karoblis, EU Ambassador to Pakistan, praised the reforms. They acknowledged the improved investment climate, noting increased interest from European investors in Pakistan’s power sector projects.