ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2026 — Pakistan’s government has decided to suspend electricity supply for around 2.25 hours daily during peak demand hours from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am, in a move aimed at reducing reliance on expensive fuels and preventing a sharp rise in power tariffs, officials said on Tuesday.
The decision was announced by the Power Division under what it described as a “Peak Hours Relief Strategy,” designed to manage rising demand and stabilise electricity costs for consumers.
A spokesperson for the Power Division Pakistan said the measure is part of broader efforts to avoid costly fuel-based generation during peak evening hours when demand spikes due to reduced hydropower availability.
Officials said electricity generation remains stable overall and the system is capable of meeting national demand. However, they noted that peak-hour pressure forces reliance on expensive fuels such as furnace oil, which could significantly increase tariffs.
According to the Power Division, the government has already reduced average electricity tariffs by 71 paisa per unit between July and February, despite rising global fuel prices. This has resulted in an estimated consumer relief of Rs46 billion.
The reduction, officials said, was achieved through reforms including merit order enforcement, improved generation planning, better utilisation of capacity, and reduced transmission and distribution losses.
The spokesperson said that without intervention, peak-hour generation costs could have increased tariffs by Rs5–6 per unit. With current measures, the expected increase has been contained to around Rs1.5 per unit, while the limited load management strategy is aimed at avoiding an additional Rs3 per unit increase.
The government has also allocated 80 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of local gas to power plants, which officials said has helped avoid a further 80 paisa per unit increase in electricity costs.
Authorities said the measure should not be described as traditional load shedding but as a controlled demand-management strategy focused on peak hours. They added that no unscheduled outages will be allowed, and distribution companies have been directed to publish feeder-wise schedules to ensure transparency.
The Power Division said the initiative is being monitored at the highest level under the supervision of the Prime Minister, with instructions to keep tariff increases to a minimum despite global energy market pressures.
Officials urged coordinated action between federal and provincial authorities, including better management of commercial electricity use during peak hours, to reduce overall demand and support system stability.
The government said it remains committed to protecting consumers from the full impact of international fuel price volatility while ensuring reliable electricity supply across the country.