The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved the release of Rs24.5 billion on Monday to expedite the solarisation of 27,000 agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan.
This project, first approved by the prime minister in July 2024, is expected to cost Rs55 billion, with the federal government covering 70 per cent of the expenditure and the Balochistan government contributing the remaining 30 per cent.
The move is part of broader efforts to address the province’s longstanding energy issues, particularly for the agricultural sector, by reducing dependency on the national grid and shifting to more sustainable energy sources. The meeting was attended by key ministers including Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari and Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, as well as senior officials from various ministries.
The ECC also reviewed progress on a nationwide fan replacement initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency. The programme, developed in collaboration with the Power Division, the State Bank of Pakistan, and commercial banks, seeks to replace around 88 million outdated ceiling fans with energy-efficient models. If successfully implemented, the programme could reduce peak electricity demand by approximately 5,000 megawatts.
Additionally, the Power Division briefed the ECC on the status of governance reforms in electricity distribution companies (Discos). The boards of directors for nearly all Discos have been restructured—except for SEPCO and HESCO, where the process is nearing completion.
A monthly monitoring mechanism has been established to assess each Disco’s performance based on operational, financial, and commercial indicators. Strategic roadmaps aligned with the National Electricity Policy have also been finalised and signed by Disco leadership as of February 2025. Performance summaries through December 2024, including data on transmission and distribution losses and revenue recovery, were also presented.
