ISLAMABAD: Power Division on Monday inked a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (TASA) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group to roll out 10 million smart meters in power Distribution Companies (DISCOs). According to officials, total requirement of smart meters was 3, 478, 290, of which target till June 25 was 1, 153, 009 whereas target till June 26 was 2, 171, 281, June 27 (2, 727, 042), June 28 (3, 231, 395) and June 29 (3, 478, 282). However, total 1, 111, 191 smart meters were installed in DISCOs till June 25, which implies that DISCOs missed the approved targets. Under this agreement, the IFC will act as transaction advisor and conduct a comprehensive techno-commercial assessment for a service-provider model or public-private partnership framework to support the large-scale rollout of smart metering infrastructure for 10 million single-phase connections. This initiative is intended to attract local and international investors to install, maintain, and operate the infrastructure, thereby advancing Pakistan’s digital transformation in the power sector. READ MORE: Power Division launches smart meter rollout across Pakistan According to Power Division, it has accelerated the digitization reform of the national power distribution network. The reform seeks to replace legacy systems with modern infrastructure, thereby enhancing transparency, operational efficiency, and long-term financial viability. Advanced Smart Metering Infrastructure (AMI) forms the cornerstone of this transformation. Smart meters provide real-time visibility of energy consumption, reduce theft through anomaly detection, improve billing accuracy and recovery rates, and eliminate manual errors by minimizing human intervention. Power Division has claimed that through an international competitive bidding process, it has reduced the price of both single-phase and three-phase smart meters by 40 percent, delivering substantial savings to the national exchequer and, ultimately, to consumers. “All distribution companies have been directed to install smart meters for every new electricity connection, with no traditional meters to be issued to new applicants, ” said Power Division in a statement. In addition, all existing three-phase consumer meters must be converted to smart meters by a defined deadline, ensuring that commercial and industrial consumers are fully integrated into the digital system within the specified timeframe. To address the longstanding issue of faulty and defective meters, Power Division has collaborated closely with National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). In its recent determinations on distribution investment plans, NEPRA authorized distribution companies to replace defective meters with smart meters, thereby expediting the nationwide transition to a fully digital grid. Power Division reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision of an efficient, transparent, and consumer-centric power sector that delivers reliable electricity services to the people of Pakistan. Prime Minister’s decision was that meters be installed at transformers and all 455, 000 multi-use transformers must be fully covered with AMI meters by June 2026. Prime Minister has also directed Power Division that feeder categories 3, 4 and 5 must be prioritized for the installation of smart meters – both at the transformers and at individual consumer connections. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Roll out of 10m smart meters: PD inks TASA with IFC
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