Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, virtually addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Energy Ministers Conference, where he presented Pakistan’s vision for a clean, secure, and collaborative energy future. Speaking under the theme “Integrate Innovation for Energy Future,” the Federal Minister stressed the urgent need for regional cooperation, technological advancement and policy reforms to address global energy challenges.
The Federal Minister highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing energy sector transformation, emphasizing a shift from short-term fixes to long-term structural reforms. He noted the establishment of several new institutions including the Power Planning & Monitoring Company (PPMC), Energy Infrastructure Development and Management Company (EIDMC), National Grid Company (NGC) and Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) as a foundation for improved governance, grid modernization and transparent market operations.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s clean energy targets, Awais Leghari reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving 60% renewable energy and 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030. He spoke about initiatives such as deploying smart meters, improving efficiency through data-driven systems, and launching a dedicated R&D Secretariat to support local innovation and facilitate technology transfer.
Federal Minister Awais Leghari also emphasized Pakistan’s geographic role as a regional energy bridge linking Central Asia, South Asia, and the Gulf. He underscored the need to enhance cross-border electricity trade, invest in shared infrastructure and develop joint security frameworks for energy systems. He called for the timely completion of the CASA-1000 project and urged full participation from Afghanistan, both as a transit and offtake country, to ensure regional energy integration and stability.
To strengthen collaboration under the SCO framework, the Federal Minister proposed five initiatives: an SCO Secretariat for Energy Innovation and R&D Collaboration, an Energy Innovation Fellowship Program for young researchers, joint demonstration sites in Pakistan for renewable and smart grid technologies, a web-based Energy Cooperation Dashboard for project monitoring and a Project Prioritization Committee to focus efforts on high-impact initiatives.
Looking ahead, Awais Leghari announced Pakistan’s upcoming energy infrastructure investment plan, which will offer international partners bankable opportunities, supported by a transparent and investor-friendly environment. He specifically invited investment in the nationwide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), estimating a $3 billion requirement to serve over 30 million consumers.
Awais Leghari said that Pakistan is not only seeking investment, we are offering long-term partnerships built on trust, innovation, and mutual benefit. We are ready to work with all SCO member states to turn our shared energy goals into practical solutions that benefit our people and our region.
