Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday signed three agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in electricity distribution, transmission systems, and power market operations, as Islamabad moves forward with major reforms and privatization plans in its energy sector.
The agreements were signed in Istanbul by Alparslan Bayraktar, Pakistan’s Privatization Minister Muhammad Ali, and Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari.
The accords include cooperation between Turkey’s electricity distribution company TEDAS and Pakistan’s PPMC on distribution systems, between TEIAS and ISMO on electricity transmission networks, and between EPIAS and ISMO on power market operations and digitalization initiatives.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bayraktar said Turkey was ready to share its experience of successfully privatizing its electricity sector and would extend full support to Pakistan during its reform process.
He noted that Turkey had transformed its energy sector over the past two decades by significantly expanding its energy infrastructure and introducing market-oriented reforms. He expressed confidence that Pakistan could achieve similar success through effective implementation of its privatization agenda.
The Turkish minister also highlighted emerging opportunities for investment, partnerships, and business collaboration between the two countries, adding that the agreements would strengthen technical and institutional ties while contributing to regional energy security.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation led by Muhammad Ali visited Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) to study the country’s experience in privatizing electricity distribution companies and regulating competitive energy markets.
During the visit, Pakistani officials held detailed discussions on Turkey’s regulatory framework, privatization model, tariff mechanisms, and measures adopted to improve efficiency and reduce losses in the electricity sector.
EPDK President Mustafa Yilmaz emphasized that privatization alone is not sufficient to create a sustainable electricity market and stressed the importance of efficiency-based tariff structures and strong regulatory oversight.
Pakistani officials were also briefed on Turkey’s restructuring of electricity distribution regions, the separation of retail and distribution operations, consumer eligibility frameworks, and tariff regulation policies.
Muhammad Ali described Turkey’s electricity market reforms as an important model for Pakistan, saying the technical and institutional expertise shared during the visit would support Islamabad’s efforts to improve the financial and operational performance of its electricity distribution companies.
The agreements mark another step forward in the growing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey, particularly in the fields of energy cooperation, infrastructure development, and economic reform.
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