ISLAMABAD: Pakistan owes approximately $12 million to Iran’s state-owned power utility, Tavanir, for electricity supplied to parts of Balochistan, Energy Minister Awais Leghari informed the National Assembly in a written response on Thursday.
He said Pakistan imports up to 204 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Iran under an agreement originally signed in November 2002 to meet power requirements in the Makran region, including Gwadar.
The minister said the outstanding dues were being settled in instalments, while the electricity supply agreement was amended in December 2024 and extended for another two years.
Under the contract, Pakistan is required to purchase or pay for 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every month, regardless of actual consumption. The agreement is between the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) and Iran’s Tavanir, with electricity tariffs approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).
According to the minister, electricity imported from Iran is distributed through four cross-border connections serving parts of Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Washuk and Chagai districts, including Turbat, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Mashkail and Taftan, along with surrounding villages.
The Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) is responsible for billing consumers and collecting payments under tariffs notified by Nepra.
Leghari said load-shedding continued in the areas receiving Iranian electricity on the basis of aggregate technical and commercial losses.
Although the Makran region has been connected to Pakistan’s national electricity grid, long transmission lines and voltage fluctuations remain obstacles to improving electricity supply.
To address these issues, a study is being conducted on the installation of dynamic equipment, including a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), to resolve voltage problems. The study is expected to be completed by September 2027.
