Hydropower Boost Drives Major Reduction in Pakistan's Loadshedding Hours
The federal government announced on Friday that loadshedding across Pakistan has been significantly reduced, dropping from 6-7 hours to just 2-3 hours as of April 15. This improvement is attributed to a surge in hydropower generation resulting from increased water releases from major dams.
Key Factors Behind the Electricity Improvement
According to a spokesperson from the Power Division, the electricity situation notably improved during the night of April 16–17. Water discharge from dams increased dramatically to 30,000 cusecs, up from 8,000 cusecs the previous night. This higher outflow led to a substantial rise in hydropower generation, which jumped from 1,800 megawatts to 4,100 megawatts—an increase of approximately 2,300 megawatts.
The spokesperson highlighted that this boost in hydropower generation facilitated the transmission of around 400 megawatts of electricity from the south to central and northern regions. This improved supply helped reduce stability issues in the central system, contributing to more reliable power distribution.
Impact on Load Management and Future Outlook
As a result of the enhanced generation, load management hours decreased significantly, falling from less than six hours to about 2.5 to 3 hours. The spokesperson expressed optimism that the early availability of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and further increases in hydropower generation could help eliminate temporary load management issues. Additionally, increased water demand from farmers is expected to lead to additional gains in hydropower production.
Context of Previous Loadshedding Measures
This reduction comes after the federal government implemented a "Peak Relief Strategy" on Tuesday, announcing 2.25 hours of daily loadshedding during peak hours (5:00 pm to 1:00 am). This measure was aimed at preventing a sharp hike in electricity tariffs amid high fuel costs. The spokesperson noted that this limited load management was intended to avoid an increase of around Rs 3 per unit, with potential increases still possible but reduced from Rs 5-6 per unit without such actions.
However, on April 15, loadshedding had surged to 6-7 hours daily. Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari attributed this to reduced hydropower and LNG-based electricity generation, citing factors like decreased water releases from reservoirs and geopolitical tensions, such as the recent US-Israel war with Iran.
Challenges in Power Generation Capacity
Minister Leghari explained that Pakistan was facing a shortfall of 3,400 megawatts, forcing power distribution companies to manage through loadshedding during peak hours. He noted that for every 500 to 600 megawatts of shortfall, about one hour of load management is required. In April 2025, hydropower generation was around 3,200 megawatts, and LNG-based generation was 3,000 megawatts. However, by April 2026, hydropower generation declined to 1,671 megawatts due to reduced releases from Mangla and Tarbela dams, while LNG-based production dropped to only about 500 megawatts out of a 6,000-megawatt capacity, relying on alternative fuel.
This report underscores the critical role of hydropower in Pakistan's energy mix and the ongoing efforts to stabilize electricity supply amidst fluctuating generation sources.
