{
  "id": 7826800,
  "title": "Govt working to introduce virtual grid system, says power minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/govt-working-to-introduce-virtual-grid-system-says-power-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T16:46:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2030404/govt-working-to-introduce-virtual-grid-system-says-power-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Power Minister Awais Leghari announced plans to introduce a virtual grid system in Pakistan, enabling consumers to generate and store electricity. The government has already commenced work on regulations for this system, with completion expected by the end of the current fiscal year. Power distribution companies (Discos) have been instructed to install batteries on their grids as part of efforts to enhance the power system and promote energy storage. Leghari emphasized the government's goal of increasing battery usage across the nation's power sector. Previously, Leghari faced criticism during a National Assembly Standing Committee on Power meeting, where he addressed the ongoing electricity load-shedding in the country. He reported that 3,500 of 14,500 feeders were being subjected to load-shedding due to electricity theft and line losses. The minister also mentioned that the government intends to shift load-shedding from feeders to transformers, thereby avoiding the need to shut down entire feeders. Instead, consumers who consistently make payments for electricity would remain unaffected. Leghari stated that there was no additional load-shedding in the country at present; instead, outages were primarily caused by power system overloads.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari on Wednesday said the government was working to introduce a virtual grid system in the country, under which consumers would be able to generate and store electricity. Talking to the media after a National Assembly panel meeting, the minister said work on regulations for virtual grids had already started and that the regulations would be finalised by the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Power Minister Awais Leghari plans to introduce a virtual grid system in Pakistan.",
    "Power distribution companies instructed to install batteries on grids to enhance power system."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Govt working to introduce virtual grid system, says power minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/govt-working-to-introduce-virtual-grid-system-says-power-minister-7829284",
        "published": "2026-09-16T16:46:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}