GEPCO privatization heats up with 11 EOIs

According to Mettis Link News, the Privatization Commission has received 11 expressions of interest for Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) by the closing date for submissions. Bidders propose to buy stakes of 51% to 100% together with control of management. The report describes the development as another milestone in the privatization of distribution companies, known as DISCOs.

Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization and Chairman of the Commission, called the response a sign of investor confidence in Pakistan's power distribution sector. Commission officials said they look forward to meeting prequalified bidders during due diligence and to discussing the framework that will apply after the sale. The interested parties include Turkish, Saudi and Pakistani business groups, among them a consortium of Hub Power Holdings and Lucky Cement, and K-Electric.

The submitted EOIs and statements of qualification will be assessed against prequalification criteria, with qualifying applicants getting access to a virtual data room. GEPCO sits in Batch-I with FESCO and IESCO, the other two DISCOs in that group. FESCO attracted 12 EOIs before its August 7, 2026 deadline, and IESCO's deadline is September 7, 2026. The Commission restated its pledge to a process that is open, transparent and competitive.