Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari Press Conference

Updated: 10:54 PM PKT — May 31, 2026

Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari has dismissed reports of withdrawing electricity subsidies for protected consumers, confirming they will continue. He stated that the number of protected consumers has risen to 21.5 million, with 86% of all domestic consumers receiving subsidised electricity through a new QR code-based registration system designed to target deserving individuals. The minister detailed significant tariff reductions between March 2024 and May 2026, including a 31% drop for protected consumers, 16% for domestic, 33% for industrial, and an average nationwide reduction of 20%.

Leghari also clarified that the government is not discouraging solar energy adoption, but rather reforming the net metering system to improve billing transparency. To facilitate renewable energy, licensing requirements for solar projects of 25 kilowatts or less have been abolished. He highlighted the country’s goal to increase the share of clean energy to 90% by 2035, up from the current 55%, attributing recent tariff cuts to ongoing reforms and an increased reliance on domestic energy resources.

Updated: 9:23 PM PKT — May 31, 2026

Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari announced Sunday that negotiations with Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs) under the CPEC framework have not yet produced a “sufficient outcome” for tariff reductions. This is in contrast to the Rs 3.5 trillion in savings secured through revised agreements with other power producers. The minister also revealed the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project will remain offline for another 18 months for repairs due to design flaws, causing significant financial losses.

Addressing public concerns, Leghari refuted claims that subsidies for low-end consumers are being eliminated. He clarified that a new QR code registration system is being implemented to ensure subsidies are targeted only at eligible consumers, preventing misuse by those who supplement their grid usage with solar power to stay below the 200-unit threshold.