Pakistan faces increased unannounced power outages

Pakistan is experiencing a sharp increase in unannounced power outages as rising temperatures push electricity demand higher, leading to a widening supply-demand gap across the country.

Officials report that the national electricity shortfall has reached approximately 4,000 megawatts, resulting in prolonged and unscheduled load-shedding in multiple cities. The situation has caused significant disruption to daily life, with both urban and semi-urban areas facing extended power cuts.

In Karachi, several neighborhoods are reportedly experiencing outages lasting up to 10 hours. Similarly, residents of Rawalpindi have reported electricity suspensions of 8 to 10 hours, severely affecting households and businesses.

The federal capital Islamabad is also facing around 6 hours of daily power outages, while areas in Lahore are experiencing cuts ranging from 5 to 6 hours.

Power Minister Announces Reduced Load Shedding From Tonight

In Peshawar, urban areas are facing around 6 hours of load-shedding, while suburban regions are witnessing outages extending up to 14 hours, further intensifying public frustration.

The Ministry of Energy has reportedly included industrial zones in the load-shedding schedule and is also considering restarting idle power plants to help address the growing electricity deficit.

Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari has announced that efforts are underway to reduce load-shedding starting today. However, no detailed timeline has been provided for the restoration of normal electricity supply.

The worsening power crisis highlights ongoing structural challenges in Pakistan’s energy sector, particularly during peak summer demand when consumption rises sharply across residential and commercial sectors.

Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation as the country struggles to balance supply and demand in the national grid.