PM Shehbaz urges a crackdown on power theft and promotes renewable energy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday advocated for a transition to renewable energy and more stringent measures against electricity theft as part of the ongoing reforms in the nation’s power sector, as stated in an official announcement.

The directions were issued during a review meeting led by the prime minister regarding strategies to enhance efficiency, decrease expenses, and rectify structural deficiencies in the energy industry.

Pakistan has consistently faced elevated power generation expenses, transmission inefficiencies, and dependence on foreign fuels, issues that have led to intermittent outages and increasing electricity bills for customers.

“A comprehensive strategy must be formulated to address future energy requirements via renewable energy,” Sharif stated at the meeting, as per a statement disseminated by his office.

He instructed authorities to expedite initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on foreign fuels.

“Generating power from hydropower, solar energy, biogas, and other renewable sources will lower production costs and positively influence economic growth,” he stated.

Sharif advocated for stringent measures against individuals engaged in electricity theft, primarily perpetrated through illicit connections and meter manipulation.

“No clemency will be granted to individuals engaged in electricity theft,” he stated.

He additionally mandated measures against distribution companies identified as contravening the nation’s “economic merit order,” a framework that prioritises more affordable electricity sources to minimise overall expenses.

The decree follows a governmental investigation conducted last month into utilities acquiring power at rates beyond those authorised from smaller private producers, which has raised worries about heightened expenses for consumers.

Officials reported at the meeting that losses in the power transmission system decreased to 15.3 percent in March 2026 from 18.3 percent in June 2024, while bill collection rates increased to 96.46 percent from 90 percent during the same timeframe.

Sharif advocated for an expedited deployment of smart meters, especially in regions with significant electricity theft, and emphasised the necessity for advancements in establishing a competitive electricity market.

He instructed officials to expedite the provision of 400 megawatts of electricity to the private sector under a wheeling framework, enabling power producers to sell electricity directly to substantial users via the national grid.

The conference indicated that the bidding process for the privatisation of three electricity distribution businesses will conclude by November.