Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari held a meeting with Country Director of the Asian Development Bank Emma Xiaoqin Fan to discuss ongoing reforms and future cooperation in the power sector.
The Federal Minister said that Pakistan’s power sector has recently shown strong resilience despite global energy challenges. He noted that this stability is attributed to increased utilization of indigenous resources, including local coal, hydel, and solar energy. He further stated that the government is focused on enhancing the share of indigenous fuel in power generation to ensure electricity remains affordable.
Ms. Emma Xiaoqin Fan acknowledged the proactive measures taken by the Government of Pakistan and observed that these efforts have significantly improved the overall resilience of the national economy.
She expressed the Asian Development Bank’s interest in further engaging with the energy sector and supporting initiatives such as digitization, integrated planning, data governance, privatization, and institutional strengthening in Pakistan.
She added that the ADB is already providing technical assistance for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and is conducting studies on the impact of rooftop solar systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the power sector. She also highlighted capacity-building programs, including specialized training opportunities in Korea for power sector professionals to enhance skills and support ongoing reforms.
The Federal Minister emphasized that the selection process for such programs should remain fair and transparent. He noted that a workforce equipped with modern skills would contribute to institutional improvements and sector efficiency.
He also underscored the importance of the National Grid Company (NGC) and sought ADB’s 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 gradually shift toward transmission following privatization.
Ms. Emma Xiaoqin Fan informed that the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank is expected to visit Pakistan later this month. The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to continue close cooperation for the development of a modern, efficient, and sustainable power sector in Pakistan.