The electricity crisis has intensified across the country, with all power distribution companies (DISCOs) witnessing a sharp increase in loadshedding amid a growing supply-demand gap.
Sources said the average power shortfall has exceeded 3,500 megawatts, resulting in a rise in unannounced outages, particularly in Punjab, including Lahore. In the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), the deficit has crossed 1,000 megawatts, further exacerbating difficulties for consumers.
Officials in the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) attributed the worsening situation to shortages of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG), hydropower and furnace oil.
They said the absence of a structured loadshedding schedule has led to prolonged and unannounced power cuts, with outages extending up to six hours in some areas, compared to the usual two-hour duration.
Authorities warned that the crisis is likely to persist for several more days, causing continued inconvenience to the public.
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court against the ongoing unannounced loadshedding. The application, submitted by the Judicial Activism Panel, contends that citizens are facing frequent outages despite paying high electricity tariffs and are not being provided equitable power supply, while businesses are also suffering losses.
The petitioner has urged the court to ensure uninterrupted and non-discriminatory electricity supply and to issue directions for an end to loadshedding.
