The electricity situation has worsened across all power distribution companies (DISCOs) in the country, with a significant rise in loadshedding. According to sources, the average power shortfall has exceeded 3,500 megawatts, leading to increased unannounced loadshedding in Punjab, including Lahore. In LESCO, the shortfall has crossed 1,000 megawatts, further aggravating the situation for consumers.

Sources from the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) said the increased loadshedding is due to shortages of RLNG, hydropower, and oil. They added that the absence of a proper loadshedding schedule is resulting in unannounced outages, with power cuts extending up to six hours instead of the usual two. Officials warned that the ongoing crisis may persist for several more days, causing continued inconvenience to the public.

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court against ongoing unannounced loadshedding across the country. The miscellaneous application, submitted by the Judicial Activism Panel, states that citizens are facing outages despite paying high electricity costs and are not being provided power supply on an equal basis, while businesses are also being adversely affected. The petitioner has requested the court to ensure uninterrupted and non-discriminatory electricity supply and to issue orders for ending loadshedding.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)