Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the immediate launch of pilot solar energy projects for electricity feeders operating at heavy losses under PESCO and QESCO.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review plans for ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply in remote and underserved areas through solarisation. He instructed that high-loss electricity feeders be shifted to solar power, with active participation from local communities and provincial governments.
The prime minister said the move would reduce financial losses, improve service delivery, and ensure continuous electricity supply in areas where conventional power distribution has proven inefficient. He stressed that pilot projects should be launched immediately in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and that their success must be ensured through consultation with elected representatives and community involvement.
Solar Microgrids to Cut Losses and Ensure Sustainability
Officials briefed the meeting that converting loss-making feeders to solar power would create environment-friendly, low-cost, and sustainable microgrids for local populations. Under the proposed model, local communities, provincial administrations, and the federal government will act as joint stakeholders in managing and sustaining these systems.
The briefing highlighted that the initiative would not only generate affordable electricity but also significantly reduce long-term financial losses faced by power distribution companies.
Following the briefing, the prime minister granted in-principle approval to the plan and instructed authorities to begin work on the pilot projects without delay.
High-Level Participation
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with the Chief Secretaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and other senior officials.
The initiative is being viewed as a major structural reform aimed at improving energy access, reducing losses, and promoting renewable energy solutions in Pakistan’s most challenging power distribution regions.
