The Privatisation Commission (PC), Government of Pakistan, has received 12 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the acquisition of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), in Punjab, with Pakistan’s leading cement groups emerging as prominent contenders.
Among the domestic applicants, Lucky Cement (with Hub Power Holdings), Maple Leaf Cement (partnered with Kohinoor Textile), Nishat Mills Limited, and the group that owns DG Khan Cement (alongside Pak Elektron Ltd.) have formally expressed interest in acquiring majority shareholding and management control of FESCO. Their participation underscores the cement industry’s growing focus on energy integration and diversification.
Industry analysts note that cement production is one of the most electricity-intensive processes in Pakistan. By entering the power distribution sector, cement firms aim to secure reliable supply, stabilise costs, and strengthen their competitive edge in both domestic and export markets.
A PC spokesperson highlighted that the strong response from investors — including three Turkish firms, one Chinese company, and eight Pakistani groups — reflects confidence in the government’s power-sector reform agenda. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, termed the development “an important milestone” in the privatisation of distribution companies (DISCOs).
For the cement sector, this move signals a strategic pivot: from being major consumers of electricity to becoming stakeholders in its distribution — a shift that could reshape Pakistan’s industrial and energy landscape.
By Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan
