Premier okays changes to National Electricity Plan

Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz gave his go-ahead on Tuesday to a package of changes to the National Electricity Plan 2023-27, together with the high-level design report on the Integrated Energy Plan 2027-60. The decision came at a session of the Cabinet Committee on Energy held at the Prime Minister's House. Before the changes are enforced, he asked for further talks with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.

The proposed amendments were presented by the Power Division and cover a broad range of areas, including renewable supply to remote regions, cross-border power trade, transmission expansion, tariff design, electricity conservation and risk identification. Officials told the meeting that the energy plan would bring in stakeholders beyond the federal and provincial governments. The stated goal is energy security and economic competitiveness, along with affordable power for homes and factories. The package also seeks to build domestic know-how in fuel and technology, alongside research and digitisation in the power sector.

Meanwhile, the Power Division briefed the committee on the circular debt position for fiscal year 2025-26, while the Petroleum Division reported on gas-sector circular debt for the same period. In a separate meeting, the premier also asked for monthly reviews of the National Youth Employment Policy and directed the Religious Affairs ministry to put thorough plans in place for pilgrims travelling to Haj 2027.