No electricity crisis despite oil supply disruptions: PM Shehbaz

Islamabad  (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan has not faced any electricity shortage despite regional oil supply disruptions, attributing this stability to the growing share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix.

During a high-level meeting on long-term energy planning and export strategy, the prime minister called for accelerating the Battery Energy Storage System project.

“Renewable energy, including solar power, is the future of our electricity sector,” he stated, directing officials to develop a detailed plan to further expand renewable energy generation across the country.

He also highlighted that Pakistani exports to Gulf nations are continuing smoothly despite global challenges.

He instructed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to deploy additional vessels to increase maritime export capacity.

The briefing revealed that currently 55% of Pakistan’s electricity comes from renewable sources, while 45% is generated from fossil fuels.

Plans are underway to raise renewable energy’s contribution to 90% over the next ten years, reducing dependence on fossil fuels to just 10%.

The prime minister noted that diplomatic engagement with Gulf countries has helped maintain export flows amid regional instability.

The meeting also highlighted growing demand for Pakistani agricultural products in Gulf markets.

The session was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr. Musadik Malik, Ahad Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Sardar Owais Ahmed Leghari, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistants Haroon Akhtar and Tariq Bajwa, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and senior officials from relevant departments.