Pakistan's energy woes deepened on Tuesday, with the electricity shortfall in the country ballooning to a staggering 6,663 megawatts (MW). This comes just a day after the shortfall reached 6,206 MW, highlighting the ongoing struggle to meet national power demands. Sources report that electricity demand across Pakistan currently sits at 26,700 MW. However, power generation is lagging far behind at only 20,037 MW. This significant gap has resulted in widespread load shedding, with some areas experiencing power cuts for up to 10 hours daily. While hydropower remains the nation's primary source of electricity, generating 7,000 MW, it's not enough to bridge the demand deficit.

Government thermal power plants are contributing a meager 690 MW, while the private sector and wind farms are chipping in with 7,799 MW and 1,007 MW respectively. Solar and nuclear power plants are also contributing, generating 147 MW and 3,000 MW respectively. The situation is particularly grim in areas with high line losses, where residents are enduring even longer power cuts, stretching up to 14 hours a day. These extended outages pose a significant challenge for Pakistanis, especially during the scorching summer months. The government is urged to address the factors contributing to the shortfall, such as inefficiencies in the power sector and a reliance on expensive imported fuels.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan