Pakistan Announces 2.25-Hour Daily Power Load Shedding During Peak Hours

Islamabad (News Desk) — The Power Division has announced daily load shedding of approximately 2.25 hours during peak hours as part of its peak-hour management strategy.
According to a statement issued by the Power Division spokesperson, electricity outages will be implemented between 5:00 PM and 1:00 AM, with the aim of reducing pressure on the power system during high-demand periods.
The spokesperson said that consumers were provided relief worth Rs46 billion between July and February, and despite rising fuel costs, electricity prices have decreased by 71 paisa per unit due to improved efficiency and better use of low-cost energy sources.
The statement added that reforms at the transmission and administrative level have helped reduce losses, while power generation has remained stable despite challenging global conditions.
Officials said the country currently has sufficient generation capacity, but rising demand during peak hours remains a major challenge. They warned that continued reliance on expensive fuel sources could lead to higher electricity prices.
The Power Division confirmed that the load management plan aims to reduce the use of expensive fuel and prevent a potential increase of up to Rs3 per unit in electricity prices. It further noted that without timely measures, tariffs could have increased by Rs5 to Rs6 per unit.
The government has also allocated 80 MMCFD of local gas to power plants on the Prime Minister’s instructions, helping avoid further price hikes and additional load management measures.
Officials instructed distribution companies (DISCOs) to share scheduled outage timings with consumers in advance. They added that coordinated shutdowns of commercial markets at federal and provincial levels could further reduce electricity demand and help stabilize prices.