International Atomic Energy Agency chief arrives in Pakistan to discuss nuclear cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has signed a financial advisory agreement with a consortium led by Dubai-based Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited to help privatize three major power distribution companies (DISCOs), the Privatization Commission said on Tuesday.

The agreement is part of the government’s broader privatization drive to reform the power sector that has been plagued by circular debt, operational inefficiencies and power theft.

The government has been working to divest state-run power companies as part of its wider economic reform agenda, recommended under its $7 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund.

“This strategic initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to improving efficiency, reducing losses and ensuring long-term sustainability in the power distribution sector,” the Privatization Commission said in a statement.

Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited, a professional services firm specializing in business performance improvement and turnaround management, will provide financial advisory services for the privatization of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).

It will conduct due diligence, market analysis, investor outreach and transaction structuring to facilitate private sector participation in the bidding process.

Pakistan has long struggled with power sector challenges, with state-run distribution companies suffering massive financial losses due to inefficiencies, revenue shortfalls and delays in tariff adjustments.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Privatization Commission and representatives of the A&M-led consortium.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, said an official statement on Wednesday, where he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to structural reforms.
The meeting took place during Sharif’s two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he addressed the summit and called for global support to meet Pakistan’s $100 billion energy transition needs.
His discussions with Georgieva came just ahead of the IMF’s upcoming review of Pakistan’s $7 billion loan program, secured in September last year. A successful review in the coming weeks would release a $1 billion tranche, helping cash-strapped Pakistan boost its foreign exchange reserves and meet the lender’s import cover benchmark.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the progress made under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which has played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy and setting it on the path of long-term recovery,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement released after the meeting.
“He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to sustaining the reform momentum, particularly in critical areas such as tax reform, energy sector efficiency and private sector development,” it added. “The Prime Minister assured Ms. Georgieva of Pakistan’s commitment to economic prudence, efficiency and sustainability as essential pillars for achieving inclusive and sustained growth.”
Following the meeting, Georgieva posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing confidence in Pakistan’s reform trajectory.
“Wonderful to meet [Pakistan’s] Prime Minister @CMShehbaz and his team. I am encouraged by their strong commitment to Pakistan’s IMF-supported reforms and support their decisive actions to pave the way to higher growth and more jobs for Pakistan’s youthful population,” she said.
The meeting between the two officials took place as an IMF mission is currently in Pakistan conducting a governance and corruption diagnostic assessment, part of the broader reform agenda under the EFF.
The IMF’s next review is expected in March, with Pakistan’s government and central bank confident of meeting reform targets required for the loan disbursement.