Pakistan continues to struggle with widespread unannounced power outages, leaving millions of residents in the dark. While government officials point toward improving fuel supplies and hydropower surges as solutions, cities like Karachi remain severely affected by prolonged electricity cuts.
Severe Disruptions in Major Urban Centers
The impact of the energy shortfall is most acute in Karachi, where some areas have reported electricity cuts exceeding ten hours. Residents in Lyari, Garden, Malir, Korangi, Orangi Town, and both North and New Karachi have faced extended outages.
Even localities previously exempt from loadshedding are now experiencing intermittent supply disruptions. This instability is mirroring a broader national trend of supply-demand gaps across various regions.
In Lahore, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) reported a demand of 2,800 megawatts against a supply of 2,700 megawatts, leaving a 100-megawatt shortfall. Meanwhile, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported a more significant gap of 600 megawatts.
Government Strategy and LNG Imports
Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari has stated that distribution companies are currently carrying out less than two hours of loadshedding daily. He asserted that the practice of loadshedding “will end forever” once a steady gas supply is provided to power plants.
To address this, the ministry has coordinated with the petroleum ministry to expedite the dispatch of four liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes currently ready in Qatar. These cargoes are expected to reach Pakistan within five days.
The Role of Hydropower
A spokesperson for the Power Division noted a recent easing of shortages, with daily outages dropping from six hours to less than three. This improvement followed a quadrupling of water releases from dams, which pushed hydropower output to its highest level in recent days.
Hydropower generation rose to 4,100 megawatts late on April 16, up from a previous 1,800 megawatts. This surge helped ease grid constraints and enabled the transmission of an additional 400 megawatts from the south of the country.
Future Outlook
Hydropower generation is likely to remain high in the coming days as the monsoon crop season begins. However, this trend could be interrupted if further rains reduce the require for irrigation, potentially lowering water release requests.
The overall stability of the grid may depend on the timely arrival of the Qatari LNG cargoes and the continued availability of water for power generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some parts of Karachi facing outages of over 10 hours?
While the government reports lower average loadshedding, prolonged unannounced outages continue in several areas including Lyari, Malir, and Orangi Town, where supply remains insufficient to meet demand.
What is the current plan to end loadshedding permanently?
Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari stated that loadshedding will end once gas supply improves, specifically noting that four LNG cargoes from Qatar are ready for dispatch and should arrive within five days.
How did hydropower output increase recently?
Output rose from 1,800 megawatts to 4,100 megawatts after water releases from dams nearly quadrupled, which also allowed for an additional 400 megawatts to be transmitted from the south.
Do you believe the arrival of LNG cargoes will be enough to permanently resolve the national energy shortfall?
