Power Distribution System offers $4 billion market: Minister Power Division, Awais Laghari

Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Laghari has invited Japanese companies and investors for investing and exploring 4 billion dollars market in the Power Distribution system in the area of service delivery to the consumers including the modern technological solutions.

The Minister extended the invitation to the Japanese Investors in a meeting with Ambassador of Japan H.E Mr. Takshir Kurai on Wednesday.

The Federal Minister for Power division while highlighting the importance of service delivery within the electricity distribution network said that since the government has been able to bridge the demand and supply gap with its induction of multiple fuel power generation, the emphasis is fast shifting towards providing the electricity to the end consumers with service delivery of international standards.

He said that government is now pondering over bringing in the private sector for better service delivery to the end consumers. He said that since the distribution network and associated gadgets are still lacking the modern technological advancement, and present DISCOs have no enough investment, it is high time that the public-private partnership can take the stage. He said that government is considering multiple option with high rate of return on investment in this regard.

Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Laghari appreciated the existing level of cooperation between the two countries especially in the power sector. He also highlighted the need of Japanese assistance in capacity building of the human resource at different levels of the Power Sector.  He directed the Power Division to keep close liaison with Embassy of Japan in this regard.

The Federal Minister also urged the need of assistance by the Japanese side in the formulation of policy documents and future energy plan for power sector in Pakistan.

The Minister said that Pakistan and Japan are close friends and have commonality of views on a number of issues at international level. He specially mentioned the Japan assistance in the Transmission expansion in Pakistan.

The Minister also informed the Ambassador regarding the initiatives that the present government has taken in the power sector.

Mr. Takashi Kuri while underscoring the need of further enhancing the existing cooperation between the two counties, said that Japan will continue to provide assistance to Pakistan in different fields. He said that Japan and Pakistan has undertaken many good projects in Power Sector as well.

The Ambassador said that Japanese companies and investors are closely following the potential and good rate of return in the power sector. He said that many companies are now showing interest in investing in power sector in Pakistan. He specially mentioned the recent cooperation between Pakistan and Japan in construction of Islamabad-Burhan transmission line.