Reforms to end reliance on IPPs

The energy ministry had embarked upon major reforms, including operationalisation of an energy exchange, which would allow the power plants to sell electricity to the buyer, Energy Minister Awais Leghari said on Wednesday. Leghari told the Senate Standing Committee on Energy that the ministry was currently facing problems related to high electricity prices. He assured that every possible relief regarding the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) would be provided to the people. Currently, Pakistan faced significant challenges, including power outages, high transmission losses, high tariffs, limited renewable energy sources and a massive circular debt. The government was striving to address these issues by modernising grids and privatising the distribution companies (DISCOs).