The power crises have intensified across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as unannounced and prolonged power outages and limited gas supply continue to worsen daily life, especially amid rising inflation.
Although the federal government recently announced 2 to 2.5 hours of daily load shedding nationwide, before peak summer begins the situation on the ground is far more severe. Urban areas are facing 4 to 6 hours of both scheduled and unscheduled outages, while rural regions are experiencing 8 to 10 hours of daily power cuts.
Many fear the situation will deteriorate further in June and July, as there appears to be no effective plan to manage the crisis. This comes at a time when the cost of essential commodities has surged by nearly 200 per cent over the past two years, intensifying public hardship.
Residents on the outskirts of the provincial capital report even longer outages, sometimes lasting 10 to 14 hours a day. While some wealthier households have turned to solar energy, the high cost of installation puts it out of reach for lower and middle income families, who are already struggling to meet basic expenses.
Despite receiving limited electricity, consumers say they are being charged excessively high bills. Complaints to relevant authorities often go unresolved, leaving many with no option but to pay. Some residents report receiving bills as high as Rs20,000 despite minimal usage.
The gas situation is equally troubling. Even in urban centres, supply is limited to just a couple of hours a day, often with very low pressure. Many households have switched to gas cylinders, but rising LNG prices have made this alternative increasingly unaffordable.
As electricity and gas fall under federal jurisdiction, the provincial government has been unable to provide relief despite repeated complaints. The Governor of KP has raised the issue with relevant authorities, but despite assurances from utility companies, residents say there no improvement in the situation.
Also read: Unannounced loadshedding grips Punjab, Lahore worst affected
