Pakistan has approved major changes to its National Electricity Plan 2023-27, setting a broader direction for the country’s energy sector.
The Cabinet Committee on Energy approved the amendments during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The revised plan focuses on improving energy planning, expanding electricity generation and strengthening the transmission network. It also aims to increase renewable energy use in remote areas.
Furthermore, the amendments seek to support cross-border electricity trade and improve the overall performance of the power sector.
What the New Electricity Plan Focuses On
The Power Division presented the proposed amendments to the National Electricity Plan 2023-2027 during the meeting.
The changes cover several areas of Pakistan’s electricity and energy system. These include integrated energy planning and increasing electricity generation.
The plan also focuses on supplying renewable electricity to remote areas. In addition, it includes measures for cross-border electricity trade and transmission system expansion.
Meanwhile, tariff design and electricity conservation remain important parts of the revised framework.
The amendments also address system operations, marketing operations and the identification of potential risks. Administrative matters will also form part of the updated planning framework.
Moreover, the government plans to improve local capacity for fuel and energy technologies. Research and development, along with digitization, will also receive attention.
However, the Cabinet Committee directed authorities to hold further consultations with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and NEPRA.
Longer-Term Energy Strategy Also Approved
The Cabinet Committee also approved the High Level Design Report for the Integrated Energy Plan 2027-2060.
The long-term plan will involve federal and provincial governments, along with other relevant stakeholders.
Its central objective is to strengthen energy security and improve economic competitiveness in Pakistan’s electricity and energy sectors.
The strategy will also focus on providing affordable electricity to industrial and domestic consumers.
At the same time, the government plans to encourage low-carbon energy and electricity production. Environment-friendly and climate-adaptive energy sources will also form part of the strategy.
This approach could give renewable and cleaner energy sources a stronger role in Pakistan’s future energy planning.
Focus on Power and Gas Sector Challenges
The meeting also included presentations on circular debt in the power and gas sectors.
The reports covered the fiscal year 2025-2026 and provided an update on the financial challenges facing both sectors.
Meanwhile, the amendments to the National Electricity Plan 2023-27 are intended to bring different parts of the energy system into a more coordinated framework.
The government’s approach combines generation, transmission, conservation and renewable energy planning. It also includes affordability, technology development and digital transformation.
As further consultations take place, authorities will work toward refining the amendments and their implementation.
The broader Integrated Energy Plan 2027-2060 will consequently provide a longer-term framework for energy security, affordability and economic competitiveness.
