Energy Minister Laghari Addresses Power Outages in Pakistan

The Federal Minister for Energy, Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari, has highlighted the ongoing power outages in regions serviced by loss-making feeders, particularly in Sindh where temperatures have soared above 50°C. Laghari, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, has instructed power distribution companies to improve their performance and reduce the duration of load shedding. He has also mandated daily reporting of electricity demand and supply to the public, along with plans to replace inefficient management within these companies.

Laghari attributed the power cuts to various factors such as high-loss feeders, technical issues, and electricity theft. He mentioned a significant 4,232-megawatt electricity shortfall in the country, affecting areas serviced by high-loss feeders in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. The Minister revealed restructuring plans for the 150 loss-making feeders in Punjab, 700 in Sindh, 350 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and around 80 in Balochistan to address the issue.

Despite the challenges, Laghari assured the public of efforts to meet electricity demand during the scorching summers. He reaffirmed the commitment to the net metering policy and highlighted the 'Roshan Pakistan' program as a solution to the energy crisis. The Minister stressed the importance of energy sector reforms in collaboration with provincial governments to ensure sustainable power supply.

Laghari warned that providing electricity to areas serviced by high-loss feeders without tackling losses would further harm the Pakistani economy. He emphasized the urgency of reforms in the energy sector, focusing on combating electricity theft and holding accountable those involved in such practices. The Minister also mentioned ongoing initiatives to address consumer complaints regarding overbilling, aiming for a more transparent and efficient energy system.