Loadshedding under two hours, says Awais Leghari

The government said on Friday that loadshedding remained below two hours daily, while four LNG cargoes are expected to arrive within five days following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy Minister Awais Leghari said distribution companies were carrying out limited outages and added that power cuts would end once gas supply to power plants improves. He said the petroleum ministry had been asked to ensure immediate dispatch of LNG cargoes from Qatar.

He said the cargoes would reach Pakistan within five days and that improved gas availability would stabilise electricity supply. He added that loadshedding would end once consistent fuel supply is ensured for power generation.

Despite the statement, unannounced power outages continued in several parts of the country. In Karachi, areas including Garden, Lyari, North Karachi, New Karachi, Malir, Korangi and Orangi Town reported outages exceeding ten hours, with intermittent disruptions even in exempt localities.

In Punjab, Lahore Electric Supply Company reported demand of 2,800 megawatts against supply of 2,700 megawatts, resulting in a shortfall of 100 megawatts. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar Electric Supply Company reported a gap of 600 megawatts between demand and supply.

A Power Division spokesperson said outages had reduced from around six hours to less than three hours daily after increased water releases from dams boosted hydropower generation. Output rose to 4,100 megawatts on April 16 from 1,800 megawatts earlier, easing pressure on the grid and allowing an additional 400 megawatts to be transmitted from the south.

Leghari had earlier said electricity shortages were linked to a 48% year-on-year drop in hydropower generation, as provinces had not requested water releases due to heavy rainfall reducing irrigation demand.

Hydropower generation is expected to remain elevated in the coming days as the monsoon crop season begins, unless further rainfall again reduces the need for irrigation water.