Islamabad, August 5, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to adopt a comprehensive strategy to attract international investors for the privatisation of state-owned power distribution companies (Discos) and complete the institutional restructuring of the Privatisation Commission within one month.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said investor participation from internationally reputed companies should be ensured through a transparent and competitive process while safeguarding consumers’ interests throughout the privatisation programme.
He instructed officials to complete all stages of the privatisation process within the stipulated timelines, in accordance with established rules and international best practices, to achieve maximum value and efficiency.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed satisfaction over the successful investor roadshows held in Pakistan and abroad, noting that they had generated encouraging interest in the government’s privatisation programme.
Officials informed the meeting that roadshows for the first phase of the privatisation of the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) had been completed. Investor outreach activities in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and China also received a positive response from potential investors.
The meeting reviewed progress on the first phase of the Discos’ privatisation and discussed measures to strengthen the Privatisation Commission through institutional reforms and the recruitment of highly qualified professionals.
The prime minister directed the commission to enhance its capacity by hiring experts in finance, law and information technology with internationally recognized qualifications, saying a stronger institution would improve the quality of transactions and help attract greater domestic and foreign investment.
He also instructed officials to incorporate recommendations from leading professional consultants into the privatisation process while ensuring that all legal, regulatory and financial arrangements are completed on schedule.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to consumer protection, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the authorities to establish a comprehensive grievance redress mechanism for consumers of the entities being privatised to ensure uninterrupted service delivery and public confidence.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali and other senior government officials.
The privatisation of Fesco, Gepco and Iesco forms the first phase of the government’s broader power sector reform programme. The three companies, regarded as the most financially viable among Pakistan’s state-owned electricity distribution companies, collectively serve more than 14 million consumers across Punjab, Islamabad and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the plan, investors will be offered between 51 and 100 per cent shareholding along with management control of each company. The government aims to improve operational efficiency, strengthen service delivery, attract domestic and foreign investment and modernize Pakistan’s power distribution sector through private-sector participation.
