Islamabad/Brussels, (Unib Rashid) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an important meeting on energy security, emphasizing that the energy sector has now become a central component of the country’s long-term national planning.

Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that due to timely measures and efficient energy management amid the current regional situation, Pakistan has remained protected from any major energy crisis. He directed that, for energy conservation and sustainable development, the country’s transport system should be gradually shifted to environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

The Prime Minister further instructed authorities to continue progress on plans for establishing strategic reserves of crude oil to meet future energy needs. He also announced that, going forward, only electric buses and motorcycles will be procured for government use.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting regarding energy security. Islamabad, 23 April 2026. pic.twitter.com/F92ICtGKcb

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 23, 2026

Moreover, he directed relevant departments to accelerate the establishment of EV charging stations and formulate a comprehensive strategy to facilitate the availability of batteries for storing surplus solar energy. He also stressed encouraging the local production of high-quality storage batteries.

During the briefing, it was informed that the National Coordination and Management Council is closely monitoring the energy sector on a daily basis in light of the regional situation. Officials stated that the country currently has sufficient petroleum reserves and that food security remains stable.

The meeting was further informed that continuous efforts by oil and gas companies are contributing to an increase in domestic production, while initial approval documents (PC-I) are being prepared for two pilot projects on grid-level battery storage. Households generating solar energy are also being encouraged to adopt battery storage systems.

Federal ministers Musadik Malik, Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, along with other senior officials, advisers, and government representatives, attended the meeting.