Iesco privatisation receives strong investor interest as 10 EOIs submitted

• Three Turkish companies submit EOIs for Iesco privatisation.
• Pakistani business groups also show strong interest.
• Applicants face evaluation before entering due diligence stage.

The privatisation of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has attracted strong interest from domestic and international investors, with the Privatisation Commission receiving 10 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) on the closing date for submission.

In a statement, the commission said that the prospective investors have expressed interest in acquiring a 51% to 100% shareholding in Iesco along with management control.

The Turkish investors are Aktor Elektrik Enerji, Genvera Enerji and Cengiz Enerji Sanayii.

The Privatisation Commission said investors from Turkiye and several leading Pakistani business groups had submitted their interest, adding that it appreciated the investor community's engagement during domestic and international roadshows and welcomed their confidence in Pakistan's power-sector reform agenda.

“This is an important milestone in the privatisation of Discos. The strong response received for Iesco reflects that investors have confidence in the potential of Pakistan’s electricity distribution sector and in the government's commitment to a transparent, competitive and professionally managed process,” said Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman of the Privatisation Commission.

The commission will now engage with the prequalified investors through the due-diligence process and seek alignment on an equitable, transparent and predictable post-privatisation regime, he said.

According to the adviser, the privatisation is intended to improve operational efficiency, modernise distribution infrastructure, strengthen customer service and reduce losses to support a more financially sustainable power sector. Over time, these measures are expected to lead to more affordable and reliable power for consumers.

The EOIs and Statements of Qualification (SOQs) submitted by the interested parties will undergo a comprehensive evaluation against the approved prequalification criteria.

Applicants meeting the prescribed requirements will be prequalified and invited to the next stage of the transaction, where they will be granted access to the Virtual Data Room (VDR) to undertake detailed buy-side due diligence.

Iesco is among the three electricity distribution companies included in DISCOs Batch-I, alongside Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco).

Ten interested parties have been prequalified for Fesco, while 11 EOIs were received for Gepco and are currently under evaluation for prequalification.

The Privatisation Commission said it remained committed to an open, transparent and competitive privatisation process undertaken in the public interest and in support of the federal government's wider power-sector reform agenda.