Tuesday, December 23 2025

Solar power growth creates challenges to national grid: expert
A Chinese energy expert has warned that the rapid expansion of decentralized solar power in Pakistan is placing additional pressure on the national grid and increasing costs for consumers who cannot afford solar systems. Prof. Dr Yixian Sun from the University of Bath, UK, said Pakistan has spent over USD 10 billion on solar imports without capturing industrial or economic spill-overs. He stated this at the launch ofthe policy report, titled “From Solar Boom to Green Industrialization: Policy Pathways to Localizing Solar Value Chains in Pakistan,” by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the University of Bath, on Monday. Highlighting global trends, he noted that Chinese companies have invested over USD 200 billion in solar manufacturing abroad in the last three years, particularly in Southeast Asia, while Pakistan has attracted almost none.
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Friday, December 19 2025

ECC approves Rs200b power subsidy to keep circular debt within IMF-agreed limits
As the government projects an alarming increase of Rs491 billion in circular debt within six months, a cabinet body on Thursday approved Rs200 billion power subsidies to keep the flow of the debt within limits agreed with the International Monetary Fund. The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet that took the decision also approved Rs11.5 billion for discretionary spending on the parliamentarians’ schemes in total disregard to the nation’s fiscal health. The ECC approved a “supplementary grant amounting to Rs200 billion under the head of government of Pakistan investment in DISCOs’ equity to address cash flow constraints in the power sector”, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Finance after the meeting.
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Thursday, December 18 2025

Government asks ADB for power debt support
Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has sought the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) support in addressing power sector debt repayment challenges and in building confidence among private investors. According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, Leghari met with a delegation of the ADB led by Leah Gutierrez, Director General, Central and West Asia Department. Leghari briefed the delegation on key challenges facing the power sector. He highlighted constraints in financing, issues related to rupee cover and high upfront costs. He added that the government is engaging local investors through the Pakistan Business Council to attract private investment in the power transmission sector and improve market visibility.
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Leghari shares power sector woes with ADB
The Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari has shared woes of the sector with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), top of which are constraints in financing, rupee cover and high upfront costs. In a meeting with a delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Leah Gutierrez, Director General, Central and West Asia Department, the minister sought ADB’s support in addressing power sector debt repayment challenges, and in building confidence among private investors. Leah Gutierrez shared that this was her first visit to Pakistan in her current role and appreciated the opportunity to engage with the Power Division. The minister briefed the delegation on key challenges which the power sector is facing. He highlighted constraints in financing, issues related to rupee cover, and high upfront costs.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators power-gen-dist

Monday, December 15 2025

KP completes 3 hydropower projects of 63 MW
The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has successfully completed three hydropower projects of 63 megawatt (MW) electricity generating capacity; Rs.4.4 billion per annum for the province. Furthermore, the pace of work has also been accelerated on laying a 40-kilometer transmission line on the Swat Corridor, which will be completed next year and with its completion, cheap electricity produced by the completed hydropower projects will be sold to the industrial sector at subsidized rates. These views were expressed by Secretary Energy & Power, Nisar Ahmed while chairing a progress review meeting on 7 major ongoing hydropower projects at the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) House. During the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PEDO, Habibullah Shah briefed and explained that this year, three major hydropower projects of 63 MW namely 40.8 MW Koto Dir, 11.8 MW Karora Shangla and 10.2 MW Jabori, Mansehra, have been completed successfully.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators power-gen-dist