Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari has announced that four LNG cargoes from Qatar are expected to arrive in Pakistan within the next five days. He expressed confidence that once gas supply is restored, the country will see a significant reduction in electricity load shedding, with the possibility of eliminating it altogether.
Speaking during a television program, the minister claimed that current load shedding in the country is limited to one to one and a half hours, suggesting that the situation is largely under control. However, ground realities in different cities paint a very different picture.
As temperatures continue to rise across Pakistan, reports of unannounced and prolonged power outages have increased sharply. The electricity shortfall has reportedly reached around 4,000 megawatts, leading to severe disruptions in daily life.
In Karachi, many areas are facing up to 10 hours of power cuts, while residents of Rawalpindi are experiencing outages lasting between 8 to 10 hours. Even the capital Islamabad is not spared, with electricity missing for up to 6 hours daily.
Similarly, in Lahore, power cuts of 5 to 6 hours are being reported, while in Peshawar, urban areas are facing around 6 hours of load shedding, and rural areas are experiencing outages of up to 14 hours.
The arrival of LNG shipments is expected to provide temporary relief by improving gas supply to power plants, which could help stabilize electricity generation. However, the current situation highlights ongoing challenges in managing energy demand during peak summer months.
Overall, while officials remain optimistic, citizens across the country continue to struggle with frequent and extended power outages, hoping for quick improvements once the LNG supply arrives.
