Power projects overhaul saved Rs4.7tr for consumers: Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power on Monday that the government has saved Pakistani consumers’ Rs4.7 trillion by rescheduling costly electricity projects, scrapping expensive plans, and shifting toward local energy sources.

At the same time, he also came down hard on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for failing to curb rampant electricity theft, saying the province made no effort to install meters or reduce losses despite receiving uninterrupted power for three months. He also dismissed claims of political favoritism in power supply, noting that even feeders in his and his son’s constituencies receive electricity for only a few hours daily. MNA Muhammad Idrees chaired the meeting.

Leghari said the government’s initiatives are focused on making electricity more affordable. Previous governments avoided purchasing low-cost power, instead opting for expensive temporary arrangements.

The government’s cost-cutting measures have already resulted in savings of Rs3,400 billion. Looking ahead, the government expects to save an additional Rs4,743 billion over the next decade through continued reforms and smarter energy planning.

Leghari said, “We have removed burden of Rs1,953 billion from consumers by removing the costly projects. However, through revised project timelines and rational procurement, Rs2,790 billion was saved — ultimately shielding consumers from an overall Rs4.7 trillion blow over next 10 years. The government has now decided not to acquire additional electricity for the foreseeable future and will submit its revised Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP 2024–2034) to NEPRA within the next few weeks,” he said.

HESCO and SEPCO officials claimed 80 per cent recovery rates, but Leghari expressed astonishment and flatly rejected the figures, pointing out that Hesco’s recovery dropped by 10 per cent from July to March compared to the same period last year.

The meeting also focused on Karachi’s summer and monsoon readiness. K-Electric officials revealed that out of 2,100 feeders in the city, 70 per cent are now load-shedding-free, with plans to extend this to 95 per cent by 2030. Industrial zones, they added, are entirely exempt from load-shedding.

K-Electric reported a Rs30 billion loss this year but claimed to have slashed power losses from 40 per cent to 15 per cent. The company is also planning a $2 billion investment to upgrade the power system.

Chief Distribution Officer Saadia Dada emphasized that strict safety protocols are in place during the summer and monsoon months. The federal government currently supplies K-Electric with 1,600 MW of power, up from 900 MW previously. Officials confirmed that subsidies are provided under the uniform tariff policy to ensure affordability for consumers.