LAHORE: Pakistan’s electricity shortfall has climbed beyond 4,000 megawatts, triggering extended load-shedding across Punjab, particularly in Lahore, where residents have reported frequent and prolonged power cuts.
Sources said the shortfall faced by the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) had surpassed 1,200MW, while the national deficit remained above 4,000MW.
The electricity shortage is relatively less severe during daylight hours because of increased solar generation. Around 7,000MW of electricity is being contributed to the national grid through solar sources each day, according to sources.
Officials said power generation had declined after several plants reduced their output. The situation could deteriorate further because of fuel shortages, with sources reporting that an RLNG vessel had failed to reach the port.
As a result, some power plants are reportedly operating below their capacity to conserve available gas and oil, further reducing electricity production.
The worsening situation also drew strong criticism in the Punjab Assembly, which unanimously passed a resolution on Friday condemning severe load-shedding across the province.
During the session, lawmakers questioned the government’s energy policies and called for greater investment in alternative sources of electricity.
Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Mansoor Azam told the house that Punjab was examining several renewable-energy initiatives, including solar and wind projects in southern parts of the province.
He said Article 157(2) of the Constitution allows provinces to establish power-generation projects. However, he clarified that the 21st Constitutional Amendment does not contain a specific provision allowing an entire province to independently establish power plants.
Azam also disclosed that the Punjab government was considering legislation to establish a provincial Energy Regulatory Authority. If approved, the legislation would be initiated and the authority’s administrative structure could become operational within about a year.
The government has identified a wind corridor in Rajanpur and Rojhan, where wind projects with a combined capacity of around 1,000MW have been proposed. Another 800MW of solar-wind hybrid projects have also been identified in the region.
The parliamentary secretary also briefed lawmakers on a biogas facility in Gujjarpura Basti, Lahore. Its expansion was completed on March 1, 2026, increasing its capacity from 6,000 to 12,000 units, according to the official.
The facility is supplying biogas to industrial consumers, including businesses in Kot Lakhpat, and generating around Rs1.7 million in revenue.
Azam said energy schemes in Faisalabad Division had been allocated a total budget of Rs2.510 billion for the 2025-26 financial year.
The assembly session also saw a tense exchange between opposition lawmaker Brigadier (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed and Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan after the lawmaker complained about delays in receiving responses to his questions.
