Pakistan to convert loss-making electricity feeders to solar power
The federal government has decided to convert electricity feeders incurring heavy financial losses to solar energy as part of broader efforts to strengthen electricity supply and reduce mounting losses in the power sector.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where ongoing power sector reforms and measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply—particularly in remote and underserved areas—were reviewed.
The prime minister directed that high-loss feeders be shifted to solar energy in close coordination with provincial governments and local communities. He noted that the transition to solar power would help minimise losses while ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply for consumers in affected regions.
PM Shehbaz also ordered the immediate launch of pilot projects for loss-making feeders operated by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). He emphasised that meaningful consultations with elected representatives and active community participation would be critical to the successful implementation of the initiative.
Officials informed the meeting that converting high-loss feeders to solar power would enable the development of environmentally friendly, low-cost, and sustainable microgrids. These microgrids would involve local communities, provincial authorities, and the federal government as key stakeholders.
The initiative, they added, would not only provide affordable electricity to consumers but also significantly reduce future financial losses faced by power distribution companies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the overall plan and directed relevant authorities to begin work on the pilot projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan without delay.