While the government maintains that there is no load shedding across the country, residents in several parts of Punjab, including Lahore and Khanpur, continue to experience prolonged unannounced power outages, resulting in water shortages and mounting frustration.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Power Division claimed that electricity generation currently exceeds demand, and that no area in Pakistan is undergoing scheduled load shedding. “The national power demand stands at 21,500 megawatts, and all distribution companies (DISCOs) are receiving electricity as per their designated share,” the spokesperson asserted.
They also noted that lower demand in some areas is due to the increased use of solar net metering, which reduces grid dependency and creates a discrepancy between actual consumption and grid demand.
However, reports from residents paint a contrasting picture.
Frequent Power Cuts in Lahore
In Lahore, citizens reported unannounced power outages lasting four to five hours daily, particularly as temperatures continue to climb. These outages have also disrupted water supply in several neighborhoods.
When contacted, officials from the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) denied conducting any scheduled load shedding. They stated that the system has ample electricity and attributed the outages to technical issues such as transformer malfunctions and tripping, rather than deliberate load management.
Routine Shutdowns in Khanpur
In Khanpur, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) has been enforcing a daily five-hour power shutdown from 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM. WAPDA officials explained that the outages are part of ongoing technical upgrades, recommended by the Regional Rehabilitation Engineer (RRE), and are backed by an official notification.
Despite these scheduled shutdowns, locals report an additional 2 to 3 hours of unplanned power cuts, which continue to disrupt both household routines and commercial operations.
