ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORTER
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the green light for the formulation of a Comprehensive National Energy Plan (CNEP) in consultation with relevant ministries and provincial governments. He also directed the establishment of a separate secretariat dedicated to the implementation of the plan.
The directives were issued during a review meeting of the Cabinet’s sub-committee on energy, attended by Federal Ministers for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Energy Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan Laghari, Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, provincial chief secretaries, and other senior officials.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the CNEP should ensure affordable electricity supply for industries and convenient access for domestic consumers. He instructed that recommendations from the Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries, and Ministry of Petroleum be effectively incorporated. The plan will also oversee the privatization of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) efficiently and swiftly.
PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed that industries should be provided electricity at competitive tariffs to boost the country’s industrial productivity. He noted that recent reforms in the electricity transmission system have improved efficiency and called for enhanced coordination among all relevant units and ministries to benefit domestic and industrial energy consumers nationwide. Officials briefed the Prime Minister that preliminary consultations with all ministries for the CNEP are already underway.