LCCI welcomes approval of NIEP design, calls for business community input

LAHORE, Aug 19 (APP): Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol here Wednesday welcomed the Cabinet Committee on Energy’s approval of the high-level design of National Integrated Energy Plan 2027-2060 (NIEP), terming it a positive and important step toward building a more efficient, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system in Pakistan.

He said that a long-term, integrated energy strategy was essential for strengthening Pakistan’s economic competitiveness, particularly for the industrial and export sectors, which required reliable energy supplies at internationally competitive prices.

Saigol said that bringing power, petroleum, gas and other energy sectors under a unified long-term planning framework could help address fragmentation, improve coordination among federal and provincial institutions and prevent unnecessary duplication of infrastructure and investment.

He stressed that the success of the National Integrated Energy Plan would ultimately depend on its effective implementation and its ability to translate into tangible benefits for businesses and consumers. “Pakistan needs an energy policy that ensures reliability, affordability and predictability. Industry cannot compete internationally when energy costs remain high or supplies are uncertain,” he added.

The LCCI President said, greater utilisation of indigenous energy resources, renewable energy and emerging technologies such as energy storage could help reduce Pakistan’s dependence on expensive imported energy, ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and improve the country’s energy security.

He observed that lower and more predictable energy costs would have a direct impact on industrial production, exports, investment and employment. “Affordable energy is not merely an energy-sector issue; it is a fundamental requirement for economic growth, industrial expansion and export competitiveness,” he said.

Saigol called for meaningful consultation with the business community, particularly chambers of commerce, industrial associations and major energy-consuming sectors, during the formulation of the detailed National Integrated Energy Plan.

He said the private sector should be given an effective role in identifying energy-sector bottlenecks and developing practical solutions, as industry was among the major consumers of electricity and gas and was directly affected by energy pricing, availability and reliability.

He further emphasized the need to address structural issues in the energy sector, including transmission and distribution inefficiencies, circular debt, capacity-related costs and governance challenges. Long-term planning, he said, must be accompanied by reforms to ensure that the benefits of increased efficiency reached businesses and consumers.