Pakistan owes around USD12 million to Iran’s state-owned power company Tavanir for electricity imported to feed parts of southwestern Balochistan, the National Assembly was told on Thursday.
In a written reply, Energy Minister Awais Leghari said the outstanding sum is being settled in instalments. The power comes under a long-running import arrangement that still matters for towns and villages along the Makran coast and nearby districts, even after the region was linked to Pakistan’s national grid.
How the Iran power deal works
Pakistan can import up to 204 megawatts (MW) — a measure of how much electricity can be delivered at once — from Iran under an agreement signed in November 2002. The deal was meant to supply the Makran region, including Gwadar.
Under that contract, Pakistan must buy or pay for 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each month, whether households and businesses actually use that much or not. The buyer on Pakistan’s side is the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), the body that buys power for the grid; the seller is Iran’s Tavanir. Tariffs — the rates charged — are approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Pakistan’s power regulator.
The agreement was amended in December 2024 and extended for another two years, the minister said.
Where the Iranian power goes
Electricity crosses the border through four interconnections. They serve parts of Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Washuk and Chagai districts. Towns and settlements named by the minister include Turbat, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Mashkail and Taftan, plus surrounding villages.
Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco), the public utility for much of Balochistan, bills consumers and collects payment under Nepra’s notified tariffs. Load-shedding — planned cuts in supply — still occurs in these areas on the basis of aggregate technical and commercial losses, which cover theft, unpaid bills and network waste, the minister said.
Grid link exists, but voltage problems remain
Makran is connected to the national grid, yet long transmission lines and voltage fluctuations still hinder better supply. A study on installing dynamic equipment, including a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) — kit that helps keep voltage stable — is expected to finish by September 2027.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- November 2002: Pakistan and Iran signed the agreement to import electricity for the Makran region, including Gwadar.
- December 2024: The agreement was amended and extended for a further two years.
- Thursday: The National Assembly was informed that Pakistan owes about USD12 million to Tavanir; dues are being paid in instalments.
- By September 2027: A study on STATCOM and other dynamic equipment to ease voltage problems is expected to be completed.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne Iran se bijli lene ke badle lagbhag 12 million dollar ke baqaya bataaye hain. Yeh bijli Balochistan ke junoobi-maghribi ilaqon, jaise Gwadar aur Makran, ko milti hai. Wazir ne kaha ke yeh raqam qiston mein ada ki ja rahi hai, lekin load-shedding ab bhi in ilaqon mein hoti hai. Voltage ki masail ke liye ek study 2027 tak mukammal hone wali hai.
