Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, met today with a Canadian delegation led by Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan. The meeting focused on avenues for bilateral cooperation and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy sector.
During the discussion, Tarik Ali Khan initially expressed the interest of Canadian companies in investing in Pakistan’s power generation sector. The Minister clarified that the Government of Pakistan does not intend to procure additional generation in the future. He highlighted that the real investment potential lies in transmission, network upgradation, and modern technologies.
Following the Minister’s briefing, Tarik Ali Khan also conveyed interest in the transmission sector, noting that Canadian companies are keen to explore viable investment models and opportunities. It was mutually agreed that the Power Division would share details of potential projects in transmission, renewable energy, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to accelerate practical progress.
Minister Awais Leghari further underscored Pakistan’s ongoing transition toward a competitive electricity market, under which the traditional government power purchase model will gradually phase out and creating more space and opportunities for private sector participation. He added that the Pakistan Business Council has also shown interest in transmission projects under the PPP model, opening avenues for possible collaboration with Canadian firms.
The Minister also briefed the delegation on the utility-scale solar project underway in Gilgit-Baltistan. He informed that the feasibility study will be completed soon, and approximately 85 MW of demand has been identified across four to five locations and offering a significant investment opportunity. In addition, he apprised the delegation of available investment prospects in Gwadar’s energy and infrastructure development.
Minister Awais Leghari reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing all future projects under the Least Cost principle and highlighted the extensive potential for investment in BESS to strengthen Pakistan’s power system.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to maintain close engagement, enhance technical cooperation, and continue sharing project details to promote Canadian investment in Pakistan’s energy sector.
