ISLAMABAD, April 16, 2026 — Pakistan is grappling with an acute electricity shortfall of around 3,400 megawatts due to a sharp decline in power generation from liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydropower sources, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said on Thursday, attributing the crisis to ongoing tensions in the Gulf region.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said disruptions linked to the regional situation had significantly curtailed LNG supplies, forcing several gas-based power plants offline and triggering widespread load management during peak hours.
“We want to present the full picture with transparency and acknowledge the inconvenience caused to consumers,” Leghari said, apologizing for prolonged outages, particularly during nighttime peak demand.
Electricity demand in April has shown sharp volatility, rising rapidly from around 9,000 megawatts to nearly 20,000 megawatts on April 15, he said. The sudden spike has strained the system at a time when generation capacity has been constrained.
Leghari said LNG-based power generation, which has an installed capacity of around 6,000 megawatts, had dropped drastically to about 500 megawatts, with some plants operating on alternative fuels. He added that gas supply to most LNG-based plants had been suspended due to supply disruptions.
Hydropower generation has also declined significantly, falling to around 1,600 megawatts this month from about 3,200 megawatts in April last year. The minister attributed the drop to reduced water releases from key reservoirs, including Tarbela, as provinces demand less water during the current harvesting season.
“Water cannot be released solely for electricity generation, as it is primarily meant for agricultural needs,” he said.
The combined decline in LNG and hydel output has widened the gap between electricity supply and demand, despite Pakistan having sufficient installed capacity under normal conditions.
To offset the shortfall, the government has ramped up generation from furnace oil-based power plants, although their high cost limits their long-term viability. Even with these measures, the system continues to face a deficit of approximately 3,400 megawatts.
Leghari explained that for every 500 to 600 megawatts of shortage, about one hour of load shedding is required. “Given the current deficit, this translates into six to seven hours of outages,” he said.
He added that load management is being implemented primarily during nighttime peak hours, as daytime demand remains relatively lower and manageable. The government is ensuring what he described as a fair distribution of outages across urban and rural areas, and has recently extended load shedding to industrial consumers to ease the burden on households.
However, some southern regions, including areas served by HESCO and K-Electric, have not experienced additional outages due to relatively better power availability, he noted.
The minister said the government was making “all-out efforts” to secure fuel supplies and boost electricity generation, while urging consumers to conserve power, particularly during peak hours, calling the situation an energy emergency driven by international developments.
He also highlighted recent reforms aimed at stabilizing the power sector, improving efficiency and reducing costs, which he said had contributed to a 3.8% increase in electricity demand.
Despite the current challenges, Leghari said Pakistan’s diversified energy mix — including coal, wind, solar and nuclear — has strengthened the resilience of the power system and would help the country navigate the crisis.
The government remains committed to exploring all options to increase generation and minimize disruption, he added.