SCO cooperation in energy sought
Listen to article
Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Thursday virtually addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Energy Ministers Conference, where he outlined Pakistan's vision for a clean, secure, and collaborative energy future.
Speaking under the theme "Integrate Innovation for Energy Future," Leghari stressed the urgent need for regional cooperation, technological advancement, and policy reforms to confront global energy challenges.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), the minister highlighted Pakistan's ongoing energy sector transformation, underscoring the shift from short-term fixes to long-term structural reforms in the energy sector. He pointed to the establishment of several new institutions — such as the Power Planning & Monitoring Company (PPMC), Energy Infrastructure Development and Management Company (EIDMC), National Grid Company (NGC), and Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) — as a foundation for improved governance, modernisation of the grid, and promoting transparent market operations.
Leghari reaffirmed Pakistan's clean energy targets, reiterating the government's commitment to reaching 60% renewable energy and 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030. He outlined initiatives such as the deployment of smart meters, enhancement of operational efficiency through data-driven systems, and the launch of a dedicated Research & Development (R&D) Secretariat to encourage local innovation and technology transfer.
Underscoring Pakistan's geographical position as a regional energy bridge between Central Asia, South Asia, and the Gulf, Leghari called for greater cross-border electricity trade, investment in shared infrastructure, and the creation of joint security frameworks for energy systems. He stressed the importance of completing the CASA-1000 project and urged Afghanistan to fully participate as both a transit and offtake country to support regional energy integration and stability.
To strengthen collaboration under the SCO framework, Leghari proposed five initiatives: the creation of an SCO Secretariat for Energy Innovation and R&D Collaboration, an Energy Innovation Fellowship Programme for young researchers, joint demonstration sites in Pakistan for renewable and smart grid technologies, a web-based Energy Cooperation Dashboard for project tracking, and a Project Prioritisation Committee to focus on high-impact initiatives.
Looking ahead, the minister announced Pakistan's upcoming energy infrastructure investment plan, which will offer international partners bankable opportunities, supported by promising a transparent and investor-friendly environment. He invited international partners to invest in the nationwide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), estimating a $3 billion need to serve over 30 million consumers.
"Pakistan is not only seeking investment," Leghari said, "we are offering long-term partnerships built on trust, innovation, and mutual benefit. We are ready to work with all SCO member states to turn our shared energy goals into practical solutions that benefit our people and our region."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
ECC approves industrial estate at PSM land, leather export facilitation
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet on Wednesday approved several key economic measures, including the establishment of an industrial estate on Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) land, the removal of health quarantine requirements for leather exports, and major supplementary grants for climate and media projects. The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, was attended by Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, federal secretaries and senior officials. The ECC approved the removal of the requirement for Health Quarantine Certificates on the import and export of leather. The move aims to facilitate the leather industry and enhance its competitiveness in global markets. ECC approves rollout of EV subsidy, other grants A Technical Supplementary Grant was also approved for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination for the fiscal year 2025-26. The allocation will support Pakistan's participation in the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-30) in Brazil later this year, as part of broader efforts to strengthen environmental protection and climate resilience. The committee sanctioned Rs 2.829 billion for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) to upgrade its English news channel in order to improve broadcast quality and expand outreach to global audiences. The ECC directed the Ministry of Information to prepare a comprehensive business plan to make the channel self-sustainable and reduce reliance on federal grants. ECC approves key policy interventions in EFS In a significant industrial development, the ECC approved the creation of an industrial estate on PSM land in Karachi, a project aimed at boosting industrial activity, generating jobs, and attracting investment. Aurangzeb emphasised the need for the timely implementation of the approved measures to ensure their intended economic and social benefits.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pak-China conference to target $1.2b momentum
The 2nd Pakistan-China Business Conference will be held in Beijing on September 4, coinciding with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, said the conference aims to expand trade and investment ties. Organised by the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Board of Investment, ministries, and provincial departments, preparations include answering Chinese investors' queries and showcasing opportunities. "We are finalising the list of companies and scheduling matchmaking sessions in advance for better outcomes," Hashmi said. Chinese firms will be briefed on incentives such as land acquisition, tax breaks, duty exemptions, wage structures, and energy supply. Pakistani delegates will get sector-specific guides on opportunities in China. Hashmi called China "the New Land of Opportunities" and urged Pakistan to boost production capacity and exports. Twenty-one priority sectors, including manufacturing, petrochemicals, minerals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, and medical equipment, have been identified for deeper cooperation. The first conference in Shenzhen last year hosted 105 Pakistani and 250 Chinese companies, resulting in 30 MOUs, 17 now contracts worth over $100 million. Further matchmaking since then produced 45 MOUs worth $600 million, plus deals from expos in Karachi and Lahore, bringing total agreements in the past year to over $1.2 billion.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Industrial, agricultural consumers: Govt working on ‘surplus power package' proposal: minister
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the government is working on a proposal for a 'Surplus Power Package' for industrial and agricultural consumers, in line with the 'Bijli Sahulat Package' for the next three years. Speaking during the question hour in the National Assembly on Monday, the minister said the proposed package would be available to all industries, including the export sector, based on incremental power consumption. He said the Energy Ministry is developing a plan to offer discounted electricity rates on additional usage. Greenfield industries—such as data centers and crypto-mining operations—may receive these discounted rates on their entire consumption, subject to certain conditions. Responding to a supplementary question, Leghari said the government is also working on a direct subsidy scheme to end cross-subsidies, which place a burden on domestic consumers. In a written reply, the minister informed the house that as of May 2025, the circular debt in the power sector stood at Rs2.47 trillion. He said the main causes of debt accumulation were inefficiencies in distribution companies (DISCOs), high technical losses, and revenue recovery shortfalls compared to targets set by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). He said that other sources of debt increase include unbudgeted subsidies and financial cost (delayed payment charges) of payables to the power producers. He said that in order to reduce debt stock, an amount of Rs1.275 trillion is being arranged to finance/refinance the current stock of circular debt. He said that the loan will have a six-year tenure at an interest rate of 3-month KIBOR minus 0.9 per cent and will be repaid through the Debt Service Surcharge already collected from electricity consumers in their monthly bills as the Financial Cost Surcharge (FCS). To prevent fresh accumulation of debt, the minister said multiple measures are underway, including tariff renegotiations with independent power producers (IPPs), privatization of four DISCOs, reducing technical losses through efficiency improvements, market liberalisation, and ensuring future capacity additions are made on a least-cost basis. Responding to a calling-attention notice, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the National Disaster Management Authority, in coordination with provincial authorities, regularly runs public awareness campaigns and issues timely updates, forecasts, and precautionary measures on weather conditions, rainfall, floods, and other natural disasters. Later, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal and provincial governments to take necessary steps to celebrate the 1,500th Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) in a befitting manner. The resolution, moved by Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, called for organising Milad programmes at the highest level and illuminating both government and private buildings. It emphasised the importance of promoting the teachings of the holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe WaAlayhee Wassallam, Khatim-un-Nabiyeen. In connection with National Minorities Day, the House also passed another resolution moved by Naveed Aamir Jeeva. The resolution is calling for the inclusion of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's historic address, delivered on 11 August 1947 to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, into the national curriculum. In that address, the founder of Pakistan declared that 'you are free to go to your temples, mosques, or any other places of worship in this country. You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
