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Power and Energy

Intro paragraph: Our Pakistan power and energy team has been involved in approximately 90% of the country’s power projects since the original Hub Power IPP in the early 1990s, advising sponsors, lenders, regulators and DFIs across thermal, hydro, solar, wind and bagasse — consistently top-ranked by Chambers and The Legal 500.

Generation: conventional and renewable

We have acted on Pakistan’s most significant power-generation projects since the early 1990s, beginning with the 1,200 MW Hub Power Project — the country’s first IPP, for which we acted as counsel to the lender consortium that included the World Bank, CDC, Citibank, ABN AMRO and over 70 foreign lenders, and for which we pioneered the security structure that remains the template for IPP financing in Pakistan more than three decades later. We act for project companies, sponsors, lenders, DFIs and fuel suppliers across the full development cycle: project structuring, implementation agreements, EPCs, power purchase agreements, fuel supply, O&M, financing and conditions precedent.

Our generation experience spans every commercial technology deployed in Pakistan — thermal (gas, RFO, RLNG, coal, both imported and indigenous Thar lignite), hydropower (run-of-river and reservoir), wind, solar (utility-scale, distributed and proposed floating solar), bagasse, biomass and Pakistan’s first green captive power project under an ijarah structure. We also act on captive power, new captive power producer (NCPP), small power producer (SPP), off-grid and bulk-power-consumer arrangements, on the wheeling and Equipment Rental Agreement structures industrial users are increasingly adopting, and on PPP-mode power generation — including the Sindh Nooriabad provincial-equity gas PPP described below (the PPP-structuring credential is presented in more detail on our Projects and infrastructure practice page).

Key capabilities
  • Independent power project (IPP) development across thermal, hydro, solar, wind and bagasse
  • Implementation agreements with PPIB, AEDB and provincial counterparts
  • Power purchase agreements with NTDC, CPPA-G and provincial purchasers
  • EPC contracts (FIDIC Silver Book and bespoke turnkey structures)
  • Fuel supply agreements: gas, RLNG, HSFO, coal (imported and Thar lignite)
  • Operation and maintenance contracts
  • Renewable energy: hydro, solar (utility-scale, distributed and floating), wind, bagasse, biomass, biofuels, biowaste and geothermal
  • Captive power producer (CPP), new captive power producer (NCPP) and small power producer (SPP) structures
  • Wheeling arrangements and bulk-power-consumer contracts
  • Equipment Rental Agreements (ERAs) for industrial-site solar
  • Islamic structures for renewables: ijarah, musharaka and sukuk
  • Provincial-equity-participation power PPPs
  • CPEC project structuring and Chinese-lender coordination (ICBC / China EXIM / China Construction Bank / Bank of China)
  • Acquisitions and divestitures in the power-generation sector
Representative experience

Conventional generation — thermal, coal and gas

  • The Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco): Pakistan’s first independent power producer — the 1,200 MW Hub Power Project. Counsel to the lender consortium that included the World Bank, CDC, Citibank, ABN AMRO and over 70 foreign lenders; counsel to Hubco since 1997 across financing, the 210 MW Narowal RFO expansion and subsidiary investments in Thar Energy Limited, China Power Hub Generation Company and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company.
  • K-Electric Limited — Jamshoro Power Company: Advising K-Electric on procurement of power from the 660 MW coal-fired Jamshoro plant following its conversion to 100% Thar lignite. Drafting and negotiation of the power purchase agreement and ancillary contracts.
  • K-Electric Limited — BQPS-III RLNG supply: Advising K-Electric on the gas supply agreement with Pakistan LNG Limited for RLNG supply to the 900 MW Bin Qasim Power Station III plant — a landmark energy-security transaction.
  • K-Electric Limited: Acting across the development of 2 × 660 MW coal-fired generation in joint venture with Chinese entities; long-term parts supply, field services and project management agreements with Siemens Energy Global, Siemens Pakistan Engineering and Siemens Energy LLC; and dispute and regulatory matters relating to the 900 MW BQPS-III plant.
  • Sapphire Fibres Limited and Mindbridge (Private) Limited: Acquired 100% of Uch Power (Private) Limited and Uch-II Power (Private) Limited from Engie S.A. of France. Led the share purchase agreement negotiations and secured regulatory clearances from CCP, State Bank of Pakistan, PPIB and NEPRA. Transaction completed January 2025 — one of the most significant power-sector transactions of recent years.
  • Lucky Electric Power Company Limited: Project counsel for the development, financing and commissioning of the 660 MW coal-fired Port Qasim plant in Karachi — one of CPEC’s priority energy projects. Commercial operations achieved in 2022.
  • ThalNova Power Thar (Private) Limited: Legal advisor to the project company for the development of the 330 MW coal-fired power project in Thar, Sindh — part of the CPEC-era Thar coal development programme.
  • Huaneng Shandong Ruyi (Pakistan) Energy: Local legal counsel to the consortium of Chinese lenders (ICBC, China Construction Bank and Bank of China) financing the 2 × 660 MW Sahiwal coal-fired power project — approximately USD 1.44 billion in aggregate, completed in a record 22 months under CPEC.
  • Port Qasim Electric Power Company: Local counsel to ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Bank of China on the USD 1.55 billion financing of 2 × 660 MW coal-fired generation under CPEC. The amended Government of Pakistan guarantee and IA serve as precedents for subsequent coal-fired financings in Pakistan.
  • Sindh Nooriabad Power Companies — provincial-equity gas PPP: Project counsel on the pioneering provincial-government equity-participation power-sector PPP (Government of Sindh 49% / private 51%) covering two 50 MW gas-fired power facilities. Subsequently advised on a strategic share sale and represented the companies before the Islamabad High Court challenging NEPRA tariff-adjustment decisions. PKR 50 billion+.
  • Hydro Electric Power System Engineering Company (HEPSEC): Recently concluded O&M contract negotiations for the 747 MW Guddu Combined Cycle Power Plant — a multi-year agreement between Central Power Generation Company Limited and the private-sector O&M operator (2025).
  • British Gas: Counsel to the Kot Addu Power Project sponsor (heritage).
  • Engro Energy Limited: 225 MW permeate-gas/diesel project at Daharki, Sindh.
  • Rousch (Pakistan) Power Limited: 450 MW natural-gas-fired thermal plant at Multan.
  • The Hub Power Company Limited: 210 MW RFO-based station near Narowal, Punjab.

Renewable generation — hydro

  • Kohala Hydro Company (Private) Limited: Project company counsel for the approximately 1,124 MW Kohala hydroelectric power generation facility on the Jhelum River cascade — one of the largest hydropower investments in Pakistan, developed with China Three Gorges Corporation under CPEC.
  • S.K. Hydro (Private) Limited: Company counsel for the 884 MW Suki Kinari hydropower project under CPEC, with China Gezhouba Group as main sponsor. Negotiated EPC and concession contracts and secured financing from Export-Import Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Assisted the project to commercial operations in September 2024 — approximately USD 2 billion.
  • Azad Pattan Power (Private) Limited: Company counsel on the 700.7 MW Azad Pattan hydroelectric project on the River Jhelum — a CPEC cascade project under a 30-year BOOT concession, generating approximately 3.3 billion units of clean energy annually. In excess of USD 1.5 billion.
  • Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power: Counsel on the 350 MW hydropower development on the Neelum River.
  • KOAK Power: Counsel on the 229 MW hydropower development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • Mira Power Limited: Counsel on the 102 MW hydropower project at Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Star Hydro Power Limited: Long-running advisory and dispute representation for the 147 MW run-of-river hydropower IPP in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Laraib Energy Limited: Counsel on the 84 MW (Pakistan’s first) hydropower IPP at Mirpur, AJK.
  • Sukki-Kinari, Patrind, Gulpur and New Bong Escape: Project counsel across an aggregate hydropower IPP portfolio.
  • Nepal Water and Energy Development Company: Main legal counsel for Nepal’s first private-sector hydropower project, sponsored by KOEN of the Republic of Korea (approximately 216 MW Upper Trishuli) — reflecting the practice’s regional reach.

Renewable generation — solar

  • Pakistan’s first green captive power project under an ijarah structure (October 2025): Advised on the structuring and documentation of Pakistan’s first green captive power project under an ijarah (Islamic finance) structure — establishing precedent for Sharia-compliant captive renewables.
  • Go Energy (Private) Limited: Approximately USD 400 million 500 MW floating solar project at Khinjar Lake, Sindh — the first floating-solar project of this scale proposed in Pakistan and a precedent for future floating solar deployment.
  • Engro Energy Limited — hybrid renewable energy park: Advising on Pakistan’s first hybrid renewable energy park at Jhimpir, Sindh — combining wind and solar to supply approximately 400 MW to industrial consumers — and on a 70 MW hybrid solution for Engro Polymer’s petrochemical facility.
  • Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited: 17 MW on-site solar power plant under a long-term Equipment Rental Agreement with K-Solar — representative of the industrial-off-take structure now driving renewables growth.
  • Enertech Holding Company (Kuwait Investment Authority subsidiary): Project company counsel for two approximately 50 MW solar plants. The EPC contractors were Hydrochina International Engineering and Power Construction Corporation of China, with financing led by IFC.
  • Solar portfolio: Project counsel across Access Solar (11.25 MWp PindDadan Khan), Access Electric (10 MWp), Harappa Solar, Table Rock (100 MW Punjab), Benazirabad Solar (20 MW), DACC (50 MW), Sun Glory 1 and 2 and RYK Solar.

Renewable generation — wind

  • Faysal Spinning Mills Limited: 4.8 MW captive wind power plant — drafting and negotiating construction, supply, offshore-supply and O&M agreements for the long-term operation of an industrial captive wind plant.
  • Wind power IPP portfolio: Project company counsel for Triconboston Consulting Corporation (3 × 50 MW), Sapphire Wind Power (50 MW), Gul Ahmed Wind Power (50 MW), Indus Wind Energy (50 MW — financed by IFC, CDC and FMO), Tapal Wind Energy (30 MW), Yunus Energy (50 MW), Zephyr Power (50 MW), Lucky Energy (50 MW), Din Energy (50 MW), Tricom Wind Power, Lakeside Energy and Hawa Energy (50 MW) — covering most of the 50 MW wind farms built under Pakistan’s wind power policy in Sindh. Aggregate 400 MW+.

Renewable generation — bagasse and biomass

  • Bagasse portfolio: Project counsel across Etihad Power Generation (2 × 37 MW bagasse-coal cogeneration; approximately 74.4 MW — one of Pakistan’s largest bagasse projects), Fatima Group (120 MW), JDW Sugar Mills (52 MW and 80 MW bagasse-coal), Al Moiz Industries (45 MW), Ramzan Sugar Mills (60 MW), RYK Mills (30 MW), Chiniot Power, Thal Industries (30 MW), Hamza Sugar Mills and Chanar Energy (22 MW).

Transmission and distribution

As Pakistan’s transmission and distribution sector transitions out of the historical state-monopoly model — provincial grid licences, third-party transmission rights, captive wheeling and bulk-power-consumer arrangements — we act for the new private-sector entrants, for K-Electric as the country’s only vertically integrated utility, for federal land-development authorities expanding into T&D infrastructure, and for the regulatory and distribution counterparties (NTDC, DISCOs, NEPRA) on the technical, regulatory and contractual aspects of the unbundled grid.

Key capabilities
  • Provincial grid licences and provincial transmission services
  • Transmission services agreements (TSA) and grid station / interconnection works
  • Distribution licensing and DISCO regulatory representation
  • K-Electric vertically integrated utility advisory work
  • Wheeling arrangements (single-DISCO and multi-DISCO)
  • Bulk-power-consumer contracts and Equipment Rental Agreements
  • Captive and grid-tied off-take structures
  • Distribution-sector regulatory reform consultancy (e.g., USAID DISCO Performance Improvement Program)
Representative experience
  • Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (Pvt) Limited (STDC): Consultancy services for the construction of a 50 MW grid station and transmission line to a pumping station near Kinjhar Lake, Sindh, including the Transmission Services Agreement, legal compliance and NEPRA approvals — STDC is one of the first companies in Pakistan to hold a provincial grid licence.
  • K-Electric Limited: Three 50 MW projects in Tehsil Vindar, Uthal and Bela (Balochistan) through K-Electric’s Competitive Bidding Process — joint-venture structuring between the preferred bidder, a K-Electric associated company and the Government of Balochistan (which may hold equity in lieu of land).
  • DHA Energy Supply Company (Private) Limited (DESCO): Distribution licensing and supply arrangements within the DHA service area.
  • Mughal Energy Limited: Drafted bidding documents and EPC contract for a coal-based captive power project implementing a multi-DISCO wheeling arrangement — first such arrangement in Pakistan where the generator’s exit point and the bulk consumers sit in different DISCO territories. USD 75 million.
  • USAID — Pakistan Power Distribution Companies Performance Improvement Program: Reviewed NEPRA laws and the regulation of distribution companies; identified key drivers of bad governance and inefficiency and proposed reforms.
  • CPPA / NTDC — Cogeneration Policy 2013: Drafted the standard Energy Purchase Agreement and Implementation Agreement for cogeneration projects, used by AEDB as the templates for projects under the 2013 policy.

Regulatory

We are the Pakistan power sector’s go-to regulatory counsel before NEPRA, the NEPRA Appellate Tribunal, PPIB, AEDB and the federal and provincial energy authorities, on tariff petitions, generation/transmission/distribution licensing, sector-wide policy reform and the constitutional challenges that increasingly accompany regulatory disputes. We bring inside-the-regulator experience, with two of our partners having previously served at the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). Our founding partner drafted the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002, key parts of the regulatory framework for Pakistan’s privatisation programme and the standard project documentation for the 2013 cogeneration policy, and another serves as legal counsel to the Pakistan Wind Energy Association.

Key capabilities
  • Tariff petitions and tariff reviews before NEPRA
  • Generation licences, distribution licences and transmission service licences
  • NEPRA Appellate Tribunal appeals
  • Constitutional petitions challenging NEPRA, PPIB and federal-government actions
  • 1994 / 2002 / 2006 Power Policy projects and master-agreement negotiations
  • Renewable energy tariff and procurement processes
  • CPEC project regulatory compliance and IA novation
  • PPIB Letters of Support, generation licences and tariff determinations
  • Cogeneration Policy 2013 documentation
  • Drafting and reform of the underlying statutory framework
Representative experience
  • 47-IPP Master Agreement with the Government of Pakistan (2020–2021): Represented more than forty private power project companies in the multi-stakeholder negotiations that culminated in the Master Agreement and the amendments to existing energy purchase agreements — rationalising generation tariffs against payment of outstanding receivables totalling approximately PKR 800 billion. Clients included Rousch (Pakistan) Power Limited, Lalpir, Pakgen, Orient Power, Nishat Power, Sapphire Wind Power and many others.
  • Wind Power Projects and bagasse co-generation projects — parallel master-agreement negotiations: Represented thirteen wind project companies (including Sapphire Wind Power, Triconboston, Jhimpir Power, Hawa Energy, Master Wind Energy, Gul Ahmed Wind Power, FFC Energy, Foundation Wind Energy I and II, Tenaga Generasi and Metro Power) and the bagasse cohort in the parallel renegotiation of their existing energy purchase agreements, tariff adjustments, novation packages and payment-mechanism arrangements.
  • WAPDA — NEPRA tariff modification (September 2024): Acted for Pakistan’s largest hydropower generation authority before NEPRA on a tariff-modification petition; secured a favourable tariff adjustment on the WAPDA Hydroelectric tariff.
  • CTGI Welt Konnect (Private) Limited, Savvy Links, Mehran Power, Faran Power and Habib Sugar Mills Energy: Constitutional petition against NEPRA and Government agencies for alleged violations of the petitioners’ constitutional rights.
  • Drafting Pakistan’s regulatory framework: RIAA partners drafted the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002.
  • Sitara Energy Limited: Landmark seven-year appeal against FESCO (Faisalabad Electric Supply Company) concluded successfully in July 2024 — a precedent on the rights of small power producers against distribution companies.

Disputes

Our power-sector disputes book includes the LCIA arbitrations enforcing PPAs and sovereign guarantees, the supporting English-court anti-suit and enforcement work, and the Pakistan-court tariff, regulatory and FIDIC-construction disputes that surround every major power project. The full presentation of the firm’s dispute resolution practice — covering arbitration, commercial litigation, regulatory disputes and admiralty — is on our Dispute resolution (Litigation and Arbitration) page.

Key capabilities
  • LCIA arbitrations under English curial law / Pakistani substantive law
  • ICC, SIAC and ICSID arbitration in the energy sector
  • English-court anti-suit injunctions and enforcement support
  • Recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under the 2011 Act
  • NEPRA Appellate Tribunal and Islamabad High Court regulatory appeals
  • FIDIC construction-dispute boards and arbitration
  • Tariff disputes and post-COD recovery
  • Pakistan-court litigation involving NTDC, CPPA-G and DISCOs
Representative experience
  • Star Hydro Power Limited — LCIA arbitration v NTDC: Pakistan-law counsel (with Herbert Smith Freehills as international representative) in the LCIA arbitration on the 147 MW Patrind hydropower PPA. NEPRA disregarded the contractual tariff-adjustment mechanism and reduced USD 94 million in project costs from the tariff. The LCIA issued a final award in SHPL’s favour on 7 May 2024; the tribunal had earlier issued a partial award holding that an award establishing NTDC’s liability is binding on the Government of Pakistan under the sovereign guarantee.
  • Star Hydro Power Limited — May 2025 English Court of Appeal anti-suit injunction: Pakistan-law expertise supporting the May 2025 Court of Appeal anti-suit injunction restraining NTDC from pursuing parallel Lahore High Court proceedings designed to frustrate enforcement of the LCIA award.
  • Star Hydro Power Limited — second LCIA arbitration v Government of Pakistan under the sovereign guarantee: Following NTDC’s failure to honour the LCIA award, SHPL invoked the sovereign-guarantee arbitration clause. Final award against the Government of Pakistan issued on 17 April 2024 — recovering PKR 2.019 billion, USD 16.45 million, USD 2.73 million and GBP 51,180.
  • K-Electric / IGCF — expert-witness testimony in the Cayman Islands: In October 2022, indirect shareholders of K-Electric challenged a Cayman Islands change-of-ownership transaction before the Sindh High Court. Bilal Shaukat was engaged by IGCF as Pakistan-law expert witness before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands; Justice Segal of the Grand Court commended the testimony as clear and cogent and granted the anti-suit injunction restraining the Sindh High Court proceedings.
  • Coal Supply Safeguarded — Huaneng Shandong Ruyi appellate decision (2025): Secured the suspension of an injunction threatening to disrupt coal offloading for the 1,320 MW Huaneng Shandong Ruyi (Pakistan) Energy imported-coal-fired plant — restoring operational flexibility in a complex multi-agreement dispute spanning a foreign-seated arbitration.
  • Huaneng Shandong Ruyi — NEPRA Appellate Tribunal coal-spot-purchase dispute: NEPRA appealed a NEPRA Appellate Tribunal decision in HSR’s favour on the extension of spot-coal delivery before the Islamabad High Court. Challenged NEPRA’s position that its non-binding guidelines were binding and that NEPRA had exceeded its constitutional jurisdiction.
  • The Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) v CPPA-G — RFO set-off dispute: Filed suit before the High Court of Sindh challenging CPPA-G’s actions in setting off Hubco’s alleged liability under the fuel supply arrangement against amounts due under the PPA. Obtained an interim order preventing the set-off; claim value PKR 11.525 billion.
  • Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL) — water-disposal constitutional petition (Sindh High Court at Mirpurkhas, September 2024): Defended EPTL — a 2 × 330 MW indigenous-coal CPEC project, valued at approximately USD 995 million — in a constitutional petition alleging water contamination from the project’s reverse-osmosis water-disposal method. Site inspection report acknowledged no contamination; petition disposed of without restraint on operations within months rather than the typical year-plus timeline.
  • Tractebel Engineering GmbH (Diamer Basha Consultants Joint Venture): Defended an international engineering consultancy as part of the Diamer Basha Consultants Joint Venture in WAPDA arbitration claims totalling PKR 8.845 billion (approximately USD 31 million) concerning the design and planning of the 4,800 MW Diamer Bhasha Dam Project. Secured complete dismissal of all claims.
Power and energy news and insights

To discuss a Pakistan power and energy matter, contact our lead partners Bilal Shaukat, Hasnain Naqvee and Nadir Altaf today.

…

RIAA Barker Gillette is Pakistan’s premier law firm, with an on-the-ground presence in three major cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, and affiliated offices in Dubai (DIFC) and London.

The firm practices in all areas of corporate, commercial and dispute resolution law. Leading international legal directories consistently recognise the firm as a top-tier law firm in Pakistan.

Lex Mundi member firm — RIAA Barker Gillette Pakistan power and energy practice

RIAA Barker Gillette is the exclusive member firm in Pakistan for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in over 125 countries worldwide.

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