The government has announced a new load shedding plan across Pakistan, introducing daily power cuts of around 2.25 hours during peak evening hours. The outages will take place between 5 pm and 1 am, when electricity demand is at its highest.
Officials say this step is part of a “peak relief strategy” aimed at controlling rising electricity costs. By reducing power supply during high-demand hours, the government hopes to limit the use of expensive fuel sources such as furnace oil and imported gas. This move is expected to help avoid a possible increase of up to Rs3 per unit in electricity tariffs.
The decision comes at a time when Pakistan is facing serious energy challenges. One major issue is the disruption in liquefied natural gas supplies. Qatar, a key supplier, recently halted some exports after damage to gas facilities linked to the regional conflict involving Iran and Israel. This has reduced fuel availability for power plants.
At the same time, hydropower generation has dropped due to lower water levels, and fuel prices have increased sharply. These factors have created a gap between electricity demand and supply, especially during evening hours.
The government has said that load shedding schedules will be shared in advance to maintain transparency. It is also urging citizens to conserve electricity, especially during peak hours, to help stabilise the system and reduce pressure on power prices.
