The power crisis has intensified across the country as unannounced loadshedding returned with the start of extreme heat, hitting Lahore and other parts of Punjab the hardest.
Officials say shortage of imported furnace oil has worsened electricity generation. As a result, the situation in distribution companies has deteriorated. The average shortfall has crossed 3,500 megawatts, increasing outages in urban and rural areas.
According to National Transmission and Dispatch Company, the situation in Lahore Electric Supply Company is critical. The shortfall there has exceeded 1,000 megawatts. Consumers are facing prolonged outages from evening till early morning.
Sources said loadshedding has stretched from the announced two hours to nearly six hours in many areas. The situation may persist for several days amid rising temperatures.
Loadshedding crisis lands in LHC
A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court against unannounced outages. The petitioner argued that consumers are paying high tariffs but still facing severe disruptions. Business activities are also suffering due to unreliable supply.
The petition, filed by lawyer Azhar Siddique, requested the court to direct power distribution companies to ensure uninterrupted electricity and end unannounced loadshedding.
Meanwhile, the Power Division has announced an additional two and a quarter hour of load-shedding from 5pm to 1am nationwide.
Energy data shows the crisis is widening. Total electricity demand has reached around 22,000 megawatts, while generation stands at about 15,400 megawatts, creating a shortfall of 6,500 megawatts.
Hydropower is contributing around 1,500 megawatts, while thermal sources are producing 9,250 megawatts. Solar plants are generating 400 megawatts, bagasse-based plants 200 megawatts, and wind projects around 1,200 megawatts. Nuclear plants are adding 2,850 megawatts to the grid.
Despite contributions from multiple sources, prolonged outages of 8 to 16 hours are being reported in several parts of the country, leaving citizens struggling in intense heat.
