Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Leghari and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker on Monday discussed reforms, investment prospects and future cooperation in Pakistan’s power sector during a meeting in Islamabad.

Leghari urged US support in engaging American-backed multilateral institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, to help remove obstacles holding back sustainable sectoral growth.

He said development partners’ backing was vital for implementing structural reforms and improving performance across the power value chain.

The minister briefed Baker on the newly launched Surplus Power Package, which offers competitively priced electricity to industrial consumers.

He asked for US assistance in extending the package to greenfield industries to spur fresh investment and industrial expansion.

Leghari also outlined efforts to curb inefficiencies in power distribution, reduce technical and commercial losses, and improve recoveries.

Baker welcomed the ministry’s reform drive and praised the government’s progress in cutting inefficiencies and managing circular debt through targeted, data-driven measures.

Both sides discussed investment opportunities for US companies, particularly in the transmission sector, where the government sees strong potential for private participation. Baker expressed keen interest in these avenues.

The meeting also reviewed the ongoing privatisation of distribution companies (DISCOs). Leghari encouraged US investors to consider acquiring the DISCOs on offer, saying private sector involvement was essential for improving operational efficiency and service delivery.