LUMS Energy Institute (LEI),in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) organized a one-day workshop titled “Training Media Personnel on Power Sector Fundamentals” at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The workshop was aimed to enhance journalists’ understanding of Pakistan’s power sector and its future direction, said a press release issued on Tuesday.
Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, in his closing remarks, underscored the crucial role of the media in providing accurate and balanced information about the power sector to the public.
The Minister noted that several misconceptions about the power sector were based on incomplete and inaccurate information. He said that analyses and news reports founded on half-cooked information failed to present the true picture. He emphasized upon the government’s commitment to ensuring that transparent and factual information about the power sector is effectively communicated to the public.
Highlighting key reforms and policy initiatives, the Minister stated that the government planed to shift 10 million electricity consumers to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters during the current year. He further announced that no new imported fuel-based Independent Power Producers (IPPs) would be established in the future.
He added that agreements with most IPPs have already been renegotiated and that, through prudent planning and policy measures, savings of approximately PKR 3.5 trillion have been secured for electricity consumers over the next ten to fifteen years.
The Minister also stated that the recently introduced solar policy would not slow the pace of solar adoption in the country. He reaffirmed the government’s support for investment in battery energy storage systems and said efforts were underway to provide more affordable electricity to industrial and commercial consumers during daytime hours.
The workshop brought together media professionals from leading print, electronic, and digital outlets, along with students of media sciences. Participants were provided with a comprehensive overview of Pakistan’s electricity sector, including generation, transmission, distribution, tariff mechanisms, subsidies, circular debt, distributed solar, and ongoing market reforms.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Energy (Power Division), Mahfooz Bhatti, delivered the welcome remarks and highlighted the importance of informed journalism in shaping public understanding of the energy sector.
Technical sessions were conducted by leading energy experts, including Chairman Board of Directors, National Grid Company of Pakistan (NGC), and Senior Advisor at LEI, Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry; Chief Corporate Finance and Regulatory Affairs, Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC), Naveed Qaiser; System Planning Consultant, Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), Umer Farooq; and Executive Director (Market Operations), ISMO, Omer Haroon Malik.
Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry emphasized that demand-side management, efficient electricity consumption, and consumer-side reforms were critical to addressing Pakistan’s energy challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability.
He stressed that, given the complexity of the power sector, capacity building of media professionals was essential for informed and accurate reporting. He further highlighted the role of the LUMS Energy Institute in supporting evidence-based policymaking and advancing practical solutions for the energy sector.
The speakers explained Pakistan’s power system capacity and dispatch logic, tariff design, subsidies, circular debt, distributed solar, demand-side management, electrification, and future market reforms.
A detailed and interactive question-and-answer session enabled participants to engage directly with the experts and gain deeper insights into the key challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan’s power sector.
Energy Advisor to the Power Division, Syed Faizan Ali, also delivered a presentation titled “Future of Pakistan’s Power Sector: Government Vision and Strategic Priorities,” outlining key policy initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, affordability, and sustainability in the sector.
