Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has says the government is taking steps to reduce electricity prices and eliminate circular debt.

He was speaking at the Pakistan Business Council's Dialogue on the Economy in Islamabad this (Tuesday) afternoon.

The Minister said the government is also working on revised agreements with all the Independent Power Producers as the current system of electricity prices cannot be continued. He added in the next phase, the government will sign revised agreements with the IPPs and service level agreements have been prepared in this regard.

Awais Leghari further said industrial states and economic zones will be able to run their own distribution systems.

He said privatization of power distribution system is on the cards as government will no longer be responsible for buying and selling electricity during the current year. He said consumers and power companies will be able to buy and sell cheap electricity at their discretion, benefiting each other.

 He said we are reducing the burden of electricity taxes on the public.

The Minister said the government has introduced the National EV Policy, encouraging citizens to adopt electric vehicles.

Under the policy, a significant reduction in electricity tariffs has been given at the electric charging stations.

He said Chinese companies operating coal-fired power plants will gradually use local coal extracted from the Thar region instead of imported coal. This will reduce import costs.