AIIB looks to pump up to $150m into Pakistan's energy sector

May 21, 2026 (MLN): The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is considering investing between $100 million and $150 million in Pakistan's energy sector, with a focus on transmission infrastructure, renewable energy and sustainable development projects.

The investment interest emerged during a meeting between Federal Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and an AIIB delegation led by Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy in Islamabad, according to a press release issued.

The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on investment opportunities in Pakistan's power sector, covering transmission network upgrades, renewable energy development and the digital transformation of the electricity system.

Minister Leghari highlighted the significant investment potential in Pakistan's north-south transmission corridor, noting that the government was actively pursuing reforms to digitize the power sector and boost operational efficiency.

He said Pakistan was rolling out a phased plan to install approximately 10 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters nationwide, with around 1.5 million already deployed in the first phase.

The minister further identified battery energy storage systems and transmission line expansion as top government priorities as Pakistan works to modernize its electricity network and increase the share of renewable energy in the national grid.

Konstantin Limitovskiy reaffirmed the AIIB's strong interest in deepening its investment footprint in Pakistan's energy sector, saying the bank was assessing financing options for renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure and transmission-related projects.

He added that the bank's technical teams would engage directly with Pakistani institutions to identify and advance commercially viable opportunities.

Both sides also explored broader avenues for strengthening the overall Pakistan-AIIB partnership in the energy space.

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