New Pakistan govt may consider importing electricity from India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's new government will seriously consider importing 1,000 MW of electricity from India as part of a short to medium-term strategy to end power outages, according to a media report today.

The import of electricity from India, Iran and Central Asian Republics was feasible, The News quoted its sources as saying.

It is a prerequisite for reviving shattered growth prospects, the sources said.

Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party, set to form government after its victory in the May 11 polls, is considering various options to overcome the crippling energy crisis.

An Islamabad-based unnamed official of the World Bank confirmed that a feasibility study had been done for exploring the import of electricity from India.

The official said 1,000 MW could be imported from India within the next two years.

According to World Bank officials, electricity trade between Pakistan and India will be completed in the next two years, including conducting feasibility studies, pricing and building a transmission line.

India and Pakistan are working on energy cooperation though there is no energy-sharing mechanism in this region, the report said.

The previous Pakistan People's Party-led government had decided in principle last year to import 500 MW of power from India.

In August, Indian and Pakistani experts agreed to conduct feasibility studies and identify points for the proposed import of electricity.