Islamabad: In an effort to address electricity theft and overbilling, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Ahad Cheema announced plans to install smart meters on transformers across all Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs). The initiative, aimed at improving billing accuracy and safeguarding consumer interests, was discussed in a meeting chaired by Cheema, where progress on securing funding for the project was reviewed.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting also addressed the future of the smart metering project post-privatisation. Cheema assured that measures would be implemented to ensure private investors continue the project. The smart metering system is designed to not only protect consumers but also align the interests of investors and the government.

Negotiations with multilateral partners for development programs will persist until the privatisation process is complete. In instances where a DISCO is privatised amid ongoing negotiations, the relevant financing and development programs will be transferred to the new private investors, contingent on agreed arrangements.

Cheema underscored the requirement for any new projects initiated by private investors within a DISCO to undergo competitive bidding and secure approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), where applicable. He reiterated that privatisation aims to avoid imposing additional costs on consumers, with the government facilitating the transition while ensuring the fulfillment of investors’ financial and contractual commitments.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation, and senior officials from the relevant ministries.