Pakistan is facing a fresh electricity crisis as the power shortfall has crossed 4,000 megawatts, forcing distribution companies to increase load shedding across several urban and rural areas.
Power Shortfall Exceeds 4,000MW
According to sources cited by Pakistan Observer, several power plants have gone offline while hydropower generation has declined, widening the gap between electricity demand and supply.
The worsening shortage has resulted in around three to four hours of load shedding in various cities and rural areas.
Lahore Faces Severe Electricity Shortage
The situation is particularly difficult in the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) region, where the shortfall has reportedly crossed 1,500MW.
LESCO sources attributed the shortage to reduced availability of diesel, gas, and hydropower. Reports indicate that some areas are experiencing forced load-shedding for one hour after every hour.
Several Power Plants Offline
The national electricity system is under additional pressure because multiple power plants have reportedly dropped out of the system.
At the same time, lower hydropower production has further reduced available generation, leaving distribution companies with fewer resources to meet demand.
Consumers Face Longer Outages
The increase in the power shortfall has resulted in longer electricity outages for consumers in both cities and rural areas.
Reports suggest that the situation could continue for several days if electricity generation and fuel availability do not improve.
IESCO Announces Temporary Power Shutdowns
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) announced temporary power shutdowns for October 6 and 7 in selected areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.
According to IESCO, some scheduled outages are linked to development projects, including electricity-pole relocation, construction of flyovers and underpasses, 11kV feeder work and road expansion projects.
Read more similar news in our local category.
Earlier Government Direction on Load shedding
The latest increase in outages comes despite an earlier government directive limiting loadshedding to no more than two hours in any area. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued the instruction in September amid concerns over reduced electricity generation and disruptions to RLNG supplies.
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