Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy to meet future energy needs through renewable sources, while calling for stricter action against electricity theft.
Chairing a meeting in Islamabad to review progress on power sector reforms, the prime minister emphasised increasing electricity generation through hydropower, solar energy and biogas to reduce production costs and support economic growth.
He also instructed officials to accelerate efforts aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuels.
During the meeting, the prime minister made it clear that no leniency would be shown towards those involved in power theft. He directed that departmental action be taken against power distribution companies found violating the Economic Merit Order in recent days. He further called for expediting the installation of smart meters on transformers in areas prone to electricity theft.
PM Shehbaz also stressed the need to promote a competitive electricity market and directed authorities to fast-track the supply of 400 megawatts of electricity to the private sector under the wheeling system in its first phase.
Officials informed the meeting that losses linked to electricity theft, non-recovery and inefficiencies in distribution companies had declined significantly compared to last year due to corrective measures.
Transmission losses were reported to have decreased from 18.3 per cent in June 2024 to 15.3pc in March 2026, while recovery of electricity bills improved from 90pc to 96.46pc during the same period.
The meeting was further told that work was underway to bring private sector participation into three distribution companies, with the bidding process expected to be completed by November.
It was also shared that smart meters had been installed on 2,500 loss-making feeders as part of ongoing reforms.
