Islamabad, Pakistan – Web Desk: Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Pakistan’s federal minister for energy, announced that electricity load management has been ended following the arrival of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo, easing recent power shortages across the country.
Speaking on the latest energy situation, the minister said the recent load shedding was primarily caused by a shortage of gas supply rather than faults in the power system. He added that timely measures have stabilized the situation and that consumers are unlikely to face further outages in the near future.
Leghari noted that Pakistan experienced up to five hours of load shedding on April 13 and 14, while no load management was required on April 17, 18, and 19. From April 19 to 29, outages were reduced to around two to two-and-a-half hours daily.
He said that during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif, load shedding had largely been eliminated, but the issue resurfaced in recent years due to declining gas availability and evolving global conditions affecting energy supply.
The minister explained that reliance on alternative fuels such as diesel or furnace oil to bridge the energy gap would have significantly increased electricity costs, placing additional burden on consumers.
He also highlighted improvements in hydropower generation, stating that output has risen to approximately 6,000 megawatts compared to around 1,000 megawatts previously. However, water releases from dams remain subject to provincial requirements, managed by Indus River System Authority.
Leghari clarified that Pakistan’s effective power generation capacity currently stands at around 32,000 megawatts, rather than the often-cited 46,000 megawatts, and varies depending on operational conditions.
He reiterated that the government aims to ensure a stable electricity supply while protecting consumers from high power tariffs, emphasizing that proactive planning will help prevent future load shedding.
