Islamabad: Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari has said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not allowing Pakistan to provide cheaper electricity during specific hours, adding that negotiations on the proposal have been underway for the past several months.
The minister made the remarks while responding to questions from experts at the Battery Storage Flexibility 2026 Conference held in Islamabad.
Owais Leghari said the proposed facility could significantly increase electricity consumption in the country. He noted that an Australian company had achieved a substantial increase in electricity sales by implementing a similar model, adding that efforts would continue to convince the IMF to approve the proposal.
The federal minister said Pakistan is undergoing major energy sector reforms and that all relevant facts would be presented to the IMF to secure its agreement. He also announced that Pakistan’s first comprehensive energy plan will be unveiled in April next year.
He said that in the future, consumers will be able to store their solar energy for use at night. He added that the availability of solar power during the daytime had helped improve the electricity situation.
The energy minister further stated that clean energy now accounts for 55 percent of Pakistan’s electricity generation, while the government aims to increase that share to 90 percent by 2035.
He said the 90 percent clean energy target cannot be achieved through solar and wind power alone, emphasizing that battery storage is essential. According to the minister, battery energy storage will play a key role in turning electricity into a national asset and maintaining balance in the national grid.
Owais Leghari also said the government is giving special attention to the development of a local battery energy storage industry. He stated that Pakistan will promote domestic manufacturing instead of relying on imported batteries, while encouraging local engineering, system integration, and battery management software development.
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