Qatari LNG Cargoes to Arrive Within Days, Says Energy Minister

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari has announced that four liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Qatar are expected to reach Pakistan within the next five days.
Speaking on a program hosted by Shahzeb Khanzada, the minister expressed optimism that the arrival of gas supplies would significantly ease the ongoing electricity crisis. He claimed that load shedding would effectively come to an end once the LNG shipments arrive.
Leghari stated that electricity outages are currently limited to one to one-and-a-half hours in most areas. However, reports from across the country suggest a more severe situation amid rising temperatures.
Pakistan is currently facing a power shortfall of around 4,000 megawatts, leading to prolonged and unannounced outages in multiple cities. In Karachi, several areas are experiencing up to 10 hours of load shedding, while in Rawalpindi outages of 8 to 10 hours have been reported.
The situation is also affecting Islamabad, where residents face up to six hours without electricity, and Lahore, where outages last between five to six hours. In Peshawar, urban areas are experiencing around six hours of load shedding, while suburban regions are facing outages of up to 14 hours.
The increase in electricity demand due to extreme heat has further strained the national power system, exacerbating the crisis.