Energy Minister Leghari Hails Power Sector Improvements

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy, Owais Leghari, on Thursday announced a substantial improvement in Pakistan’s power sector, attributing the positive shift to the government’s robust governance and reform initiatives. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Leghari highlighted a notable reduction in financial losses within the electricity transmission system and a record-high recovery rate for electricity bills.

According to the minister, the power sector’s cumulative losses, which stood at Rs591 billion in the last fiscal year (2023-24), have been successfully curtailed to Rs399 billion. This achievement significantly surpasses the government’s initial target of a Rs100 billion reduction, marking an overall decrease of Rs191 billion in losses for electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) during the 2024-25 period. Leghari further elaborated that new boards have been constituted across all DISCOs under the special directives of the Prime Minister, with appointments made strictly on merit and transparency, effectively eliminating the practice of recommendations. Each board has been granted full autonomy to formulate and implement its own strategies, fostering improved operational efficiency.

Leghari also provided details on the stringent measures undertaken to combat electricity theft, a persistent challenge for the sector. While the total estimated amount of electricity stolen nationwide remained at Rs276 billion, a reduction of Rs10 to Rs11 billion was achieved in theft-related losses. He specifically cited Gujranwala, where electricity worth Rs60 billion was prevented from being stolen. The government’s current strategic focus, he added, is on both enhancing recovery and completely eradicating electricity theft.

Furthermore, the federal minister underscored a historic achievement in bill recovery. He noted that DISCOs collectively failed to recover Rs315 billion last year, a significant concern that has now been addressed. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the recovery rate for electricity bills has climbed to an impressive 96 percent, a crucial indicator of the power sector’s ongoing rehabilitation. Leghari concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to ensuring that all relevant information is presented transparently to the public, thereby facilitating accountability and driving further improvements within the electricity sector.