Sindh making efforts to provide affordable energy to people: Nasir

The Sindh government is making significant efforts to provide affordable and clean electricity to the province's residents.

Sindh Energy and Planning & Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah made this remark on Thursday while speaking at a seminar, titled 'Energy Crisis', organised by the Pakistan Business Arena.

He said the government was actively addressing the energy crisis in line with the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Shah highlighted rapid progress in projects such as solar parks, wind corridors and coal-based power plants. He said the cheapest electricity was currently being generated from Thar coal, contributing 2,740 megawatts of power to the national grid and benefitting the entire country.

He added that the solar park project would primarily benefit Karachi, as its electricity would be supplied to the K-Electric (KE). Additionally, electricity from the Nooriabad Wind Corridor was cost-effective, with 100 megawatts currently being supplied to the KE via the Sindh Transmission Dispatch Company (STDC), he explained.

The energy minister said the Sindh Electricity Procurement Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) was being activated to determine tariffs for solar and coal energy. Electricity from the solar park would be supplied to distribution companies, providing substantial benefits to customers consuming between 100 and 200 units of electricity, he said.

He mentioned that foreign investors had shown their interest in alternative energy projects. He also encouraged the local investors to submit proposals, assuring them of the government’s support.

Shah emphasised the opportunity for local investors to collaborate with Chinese partners, especially given global restrictions that created favourable conditions for domestic businesses. He said the provincial government also planned to establish solar-powered electric vehicle charging facilities across Sindh under a public-private partnership model. Charging points would be set up every 40 kilometres to make intercity travel more convenient and reduce fuel costs, he said.