Pakistan generated less electricity in June 2026 than it did a year earlier, but consumers may still end up paying more as fuel costs climbed sharply following disruptions in LNG supplies from Qatar.
Fresh data from the Central Power Purchasing Agency Guarantee (CPPA-G) showed total electricity generation slipped 2.5 percent to 13,413 GWh in June, down from 13,744 GWh in the same month last year. The decline came after Qatar extended force majeure on LNG supplies amid tensions and conflict in the Middle East, squeezing fuel availability for power plants.
While generation dropped, the average cost of producing electricity jumped nearly 14 percent to Rs8.99 per unit, compared with Rs7.87 a year earlier.
One of the biggest setbacks came from hydropower. Output fell 3 percent to 5,242 GWh after a fault at the Tarbela power station, although it still remained the country’s largest source of electricity with a 39 percent share.
RLNG-based generation took an even bigger hit. Production fell by one-third to 1,480 GWh, while its generation cost soared 62 percent to Rs35.51 per unit from Rs21.87 a year earlier. Electricity produced from indigenous gas also declined by 10.5 percent.
To keep the lights on, the power system relied more on expensive backup fuels. Electricity generated from imported coal rose 21.6 percent, while ISMO also used high speed diesel and residual fuel oil, which cost as much as Rs57 and Rs52 per unit respectively. The cost of RFO-based generation was about 80 percent higher than a year ago.
Not every source moved in the wrong direction. Nuclear generation surged 31.5 percent to 1,800 GWh, wind power climbed nearly 30 percent, and solar output recorded a small increase. Pakistan also imported 47 GWh of electricity from Iran, although the price of those imports was 23 percent higher than last year.
The higher fuel bill is likely to feed into consumers’ electricity bills. CPPA-G has requested a fuel cost adjustment of Rs1.20 per unit for June, almost double the Rs0.6541 sought for the same month last year.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority will hold a public hearing on the proposed adjustment on July 29.
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