Punjab Reviews Plan for New Provincial Power Regulator to Achieve Energy Autonomy

By Dr. Ansab Ali – Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: A high-level meeting chaired by Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Energy, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, reviewed progress on the establishment of the Electric Power Regulatory Authority Punjab (EPRA Punjab)—a proposed provincial regulator aimed at enhancing Punjab’s control over its energy sector.

During the meeting, Managing Director of the Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB), Sania Awais, delivered a comprehensive briefing outlining the proposed authority’s legal, administrative, and technical framework. The session was attended by Secretary Energy Dr. Farrukh Naveed, Additional Secretary Energy Majid Iqbal, and senior officials from the provincial Energy Department.

MD Sania Awais noted that despite being Pakistan’s largest stakeholder in the power sector—consuming over 78% of national grid electricity and contributing more than 84% to total revenue recovery—Punjab remains entirely dependent on the federal regulator, NEPRA. She highlighted that the federal power plan, particularly IGCEP 2024–34, leaves limited space for new provincial power projects, restricting Punjab’s indigenous energy potential—including solar, small hydropower, waste-to-energy, hydrogen, biomass, and biogas—to off-grid applications only.

The briefing further underscored emerging opportunities as Pakistan transitions toward a competitive electricity market and the traditional monopoly of distribution companies comes to an end. In this evolving landscape, officials said, provincial-level regulation has become essential for Punjab to secure energy autonomy.

EPRA Punjab has already been listed in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025–26, with a completion target of June 30, 2026. Contracts with legal and human resource consultants have been finalized to draft legislation, define institutional structures, and develop an HR framework. Meanwhile, site identification is underway for new energy projects—including 4,400 MW of solar power across 30 sites, 800 MW of wind energy at two sites, 150 MW of waste-to-energy potential at seven sites, and 36 MW of captive hydropower at 33 locations.

After reviewing the proposals, Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar instructed officials to finalize the legal draft for EPRA Punjab and present concrete recommendations for its administrative and technical structure at the next meeting. He emphasized the importance of integrating global and inter-provincial regulatory models to build an efficient authority capable of promoting private-sector investment and ensuring affordable electricity for consumers.

Terming energy autonomy “the need of the hour,” the minister said establishing EPRA Punjab would be a cornerstone of the province’s long-term energy vision, ensuring sustainable, low-cost, and reliable energy solutions. He directed the Energy Secretary to expedite the draft so it can be submitted to the provincial cabinet for approval.