Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today issued special instructions to expedite the privatisation of power distribution companies (DISCOs) in an efficient manner, signalling a major policy shift within a broader national energy reform agenda.

The directive came as the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy on Wednesday, where he granted in-principle approval for the formulation of a comprehensive National Energy Plan.

To facilitate the new strategy, the establishment of a dedicated secretariat for the National Energy Plan was also approved. Mr Sharif directed all ministries and provincial governments to present a workable and coordinated strategy under the proposed framework.

The government”s top priorities, he emphasised, include ensuring electricity is supplied to industries at the lowest possible cost and providing better facilitation for domestic consumers.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to provide electricity to industrial units at competitive tariffs to boost the country”s manufacturing capacity.

He instructed that the recommendations of the Ministries of Climate Change, Finance, Industries and Production, and Petroleum be effectively incorporated into the overarching plan.

The meeting further gave its assent in principle to the framework guidelines for the auction of wheeling charges. A briefing confirmed that initial consultations with all relevant ministries for the plan”s development are already underway.

Highlighting recent reforms, the Prime Minister noted that improvements have been made in the electricity transmission system. He added that enhanced coordination among ministries and associated entities has resulted in better services for both domestic and industrial energy consumers across the country.