NGC gets regular MD

Lahore: Mr. Altaf Hussain has assumed charge as Managing Director of the National Grid Company of Pakistan Limited (NGC).
According to a press release, Mr. Hussain brings over three decades of international experience in the power transmission and distribution sector. He began his career with the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in 1987, where he served for more than ten years. He later relocated to Canada, where he spent 27 years working in the power sector, most recently as the Director of Asset Strategy and Planning at BC Hydro, one of the major Canadian electric utility. In this role, he led major initiatives in grid resilience, electrification, and the energy transition. Throughout his international career, Mr. Hussain remained committed to returning to Pakistan to contribute to the country’s energy sector.
His appointment comes at a crucial time as NGC transitions from the former National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) under the government’s restructuring program. This reform has established NGC as the national transmission service company, alongside two newly created entities: the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) and the Energy Infrastructure Development and Management Company (EIDMC). The restructuring aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and sectoral performance.
On his first day, Mr. Hussain addressed C-suite officers, Deputy Managing Directors, General Managers, Chief Engineers, and managers of NGC in an online session. He outlined his vision to transform NGC into a modern, progressive utility. He emphasized the importance of team building, adoption of new technology, and clear communication across all levels. He stressed the need for mentoring and coaching to develop talent within the organization and expressed his commitment to making NGC an innovation-led organization that embraces international best practices and modern approaches to transmission system management. He pinned hope that NGC teams will deliver on the committed timelines to support the country’s power needs and its economic development.
As Managing Director, Mr. Hussain will lead NGC’s transmission network development, operations, and reliability enhancement initiatives. He will work closely with ISMO on system and market operations, and with EIDMC on infrastructure development projects. His extensive international experience and deep understanding of Pakistan’s power sector position him well to guide NGC through its transformation and contribute to the country’s grid modernization efforts.