Govt working to introduce virtual grid system, says power minister

Govt working to introduce virtual grid system, notes power minister.

Key points

• Kalbe Ali Published September 16, 2026 Updated September 16, 2026 09: 46pm.
• During the session, Leghari acknowledged that load-shedding was being carried out on around 3, 500 of the country's 14, 500 feeders due to electricity theft and line losses.
• Explaining the decision to carry out load-shedding at night, Leghari asked, "Who will bear an additional electricity bill of Rs6 to Rs6.50 per unit?"
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• Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with almost 20 years of field reporting experience.

Kalbe Ali Published September 16, 2026 Updated September 16, 2026 09: 46pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari on Wednesday remarked the administration was working to introduce a virtual grid system in the country, under which consumers would be able to generate and store electricity.

Talking to the media after a National Assembly panel session, the minister stated work on regulations for virtual grids had already began and that the regulations would be finalised by the last quarter of the current fiscal year.

For context, the minister remarked power distribution businesses (Discos) had additionally been directed to install batteries on their grids as part of efforts to improve the power system and promote energy storage.

"A battery revolution is coming to Pakistan as the government seeks to promote battery use and introduce a virtual grid system, " he remarked.

"The government's objective is to increase the use of batteries in the country's power sector."

Earlier, the minister faced a tough time at the NA Standing Committee on Power session as committee chairman Muhammad Idrees questioned him concerning prolonged electricity load-shedding in the country.

"Within a year, the government will shift load-shedding from feeders to transformers so that an entire feeder will not have to be shut down, " he remarked, adding that the administration was additionally introducing an on-off control system for around 190, 000 transformers.

While consumers who regularly paid their electricity bills would not be affected, with the new system, he remarked, it would not be necessary to shut down an entire feeder.

He remarked there was at present no extra load-shedding in the country. "The outages are mainly occurring due to faults caused by overloading of the power system."

Leghari remarked heavy investment was required to upgrade the power system and that approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) would be sought for the upgrades.

Regarding the energy situation, the minister remarked the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had affected the Petroleum Division's ability to receive LNG cargoes. He remarked the administration was using locally produced gas for power generation.

He remarked a gas cargo that previously cost around $30 million was now costing more than $95 million, making it necessary to take measures to reduce fuel costs.

"We carried out load-shedding during peak hours to save fuel costs, " the minister remarked.

He clarified that the administration had not signed any new agreement with any independent power producer (IPP), adding that incorrect reports had appeared in the media on the matter.

During the session, PML-N MNA Rana Muhammad Hayat stated there was a lot of discussion but electricity rates had not come down.

"There is so much load-shedding that it has become difficult for us to go among the people, " he remarked.

Hayat additionally criticised the performance of the Discos, but concluded up blaming the policymakers and the ministry for the state of affairs in the power sector.

"What can the Discos do, minister sahab? You switch off the electricity, " he remarked.

For context, the PML-N lawmaker remarked the government's policies provided the impression that it was working primarily to meet the requirements of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), rather than addressing people's challenges.

"Yes, I feel like we are working not for the country but only for the IMF, " he remarked. The minister, nevertheless, responded that Hayat was making an irresponsible statement at a responsible forum.

Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with almost 20 years of field reporting experience. As well as religious affairs, he covers a diverse range of topics, including the internet, IT and telecom sectors.

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