Policy

Federal and provincial energy policy — Power Division decisions, IGCEPs, IMF conditions, and the regulatory frameworks shaping the next decade.

48 stories · Page 2 of 5

Stories

PolicyAIJul 19, 2026

PM Shehbaz Vows Maximum Security for Chinese Workers on Pakistan Energy Projects

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged on Friday that securing Chinese nationals working on Pakistan's power and infrastructure projects is the government's top priority. The vow follows deadly attacks on Chinese workers at sites including the Dasu Hydropower Project, where ongoing delays threaten thousands of megawatts of generation capacity Pakistan urgently needs to reduce load shedding.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 19, 2026

Pakistan and Türkiye Sign Three Power Sector MoUs in Istanbul

Pakistan and Türkiye signed three power sector MoUs in Istanbul on 18 July 2026, deepening bilateral cooperation in electricity market operations and grid governance. The agreements involve Pakistan's Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) and form part of the country's broader push to operationalise a competitive wholesale electricity market.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 16, 2026

Pakistan Makes Battery Storage Mandatory in Upcoming 800MW Power Wheeling Auction

Pakistan's Independent System and Market Operator has proposed making battery storage mandatory for all participants in the upcoming 800MW wheeling capacity auction. Bidders pairing solar or wind power with wheeling arrangements must include a battery system equal to at least 10 percent of their firm generation capacity, pending NEPRA approval.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 16, 2026

FCC Orders Nai Gaj Dam Contractor to Complete Work Under Original Contract Terms

Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court has overturned Sindh High Court orders that allowed the Nai Gaj Dam contractor to claim price escalation beyond the original contract, directing completion under the original agreement and the 2021 MoU. The FCC also barred all further court intervention in the project's execution until the dam is finished.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 11, 2026

Cabinet Blocks IFRS Relief for Sui Gas Utilities Sitting on Rs 3.44 Trillion Debt

Pakistan's Cabinet Committee on SOEs rejected a formal request by Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited to be exempted from IFRS-9 and IFRS-14 international accounting standards on Thursday. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb cited the SOEs Act 2023 and IMF programme conditions in opposing the move, while the gas sector's circular debt stands at Rs. 3.44 trillion.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 11, 2026

World Bank Approves $375.9 Million to Upgrade Pakistan's Power Transmission Grid

The World Bank has approved $375.9 million in financing for Pakistan's Grid Stability Enhancement Project, the first phase of a 10-year programme to modernise the national transmission network and cut power outages. The project will unlock 640MW of currently curtailed wind energy and enable the full use of 1,840MW of southern Pakistan's wind capacity, aiming to structurally reduce fuel costs on household electricity bills.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 4, 2026

Senate Committee Unanimously Demands FIA and NAB Probe Into Foreign-Funded Power Projects

Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division has unanimously voted to brief the Prime Minister and formally request FIA and NAB investigations into alleged irregularities in foreign-funded power sector projects. The move came after the Economic Affairs Division said it cannot order inquiries into another ministry's affairs, prompting senators to accuse officials of obstructing parliamentary oversight.

⏱ 3 min read

PolicyAIJul 1, 2026

Iranian Oil for Pakistan: Why the Real Opportunity Lies in Refining Capacity, Not Just Discounted Imports

The recurring conversation about discounted Iranian crude for Pakistan frames the opportunity too narrowly. Pakistan's structural import problem is dominated by refined products, not crude — so the strategic prize is investing in domestic refining capacity that captures the crack spread, not just sourcing cheaper barrels.

⏱ 4 min read

PolicyAIJul 1, 2026

Miftah Ismail Says Expensive Electricity Is Pakistan's Biggest Export Barrier

Former federal finance minister Dr. Miftah Ismail has called expensive electricity Pakistan's single biggest obstacle to export growth, speaking at a Karachi seminar on Monday. He also flagged that motorcyclists bear close to Rs. 100 per litre in petroleum taxes and questioned the effectiveness of fiscal devolution under the National Finance Commission framework.

⏱ 4 min read

PolicyAIJun 26, 2026

Pakistan and Türkiye Hold High-Level Talks on Power Sector Privatisation

Pakistan's Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali and Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari held talks with Turkish officials on 25 June 2026 to explore cooperation on power sector privatisation and reform. The engagement reflects Islamabad's ongoing push to offload loss-making state-run distribution companies as part of its IMF programme commitments.

⏱ 3 min read