Pakistan's Power Sector: Tracking the First Year's Progress of the Present Government

Abstract

The paper tracks the performance of the power sector during last one year (2013–14) against the policy of the government announced in August 2014. It brings out that while several projects had been announced to increase power supply through mainly imported coal based projects, integrated and analytic approach is lacking. A number of MOUs have been signed but concrete agreements for implementation are yet to be signed in most of the cases. Development and use of indigenous energy resources is not being pursued proactively and aggressively. There are mismatches in the power generation initiatives and the logistic infrastructure (transmission lines, coal transportation, import facilities and storage etc). Demand Side Management (DSM) is not given due priority. In many areas there are deviations from the policy. Slogans are not matched with actions and the ground realities. The institutions are in disharmony and organization culture is more of dictation than professional. On the whole, the sector is not driven professionally and with proper planning and is thus unsustainable.