Lahore: Pakistan is facing an increasing electricity shortage after technical faults disrupted the hydropower systems at Tarbela and Mangla, affecting electricity supplies in Lahore, Punjab, and several other parts of the country.
According to sources, technical problems in the hydropower systems have forced two electricity-generating units at Tarbela to shut down. The closure has reduced the amount of electricity available to the national power system, resulting in a growing gap between electricity demand and supply.
The situation has particularly affected Lahore and surrounding areas, where residents are experiencing unannounced power outages.
Sources revealed that the electricity shortfall within the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) network has reached approximately 800 megawatts.
As a result, several areas of Lahore have reportedly been experiencing up to four hours of unscheduled load shedding during the evening.
The unexpected power cuts are creating difficulties for households, businesses, and people carrying out their daily activities.
Tarbela and Mangla are among Pakistan’s major hydropower projects and play an important role in supplying electricity to the national grid. Any technical disruption affecting their power generation systems can reduce electricity availability and increase pressure on the country’s power distribution network.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has directed all electricity distribution companies to issue proper load-shedding schedules.
The purpose of these instructions is to inform consumers about expected power outages in advance so they can manage their daily routines and business activities accordingly.
However, no confirmed timeline has been announced for restoring the two affected power-generating units at Tarbela.
The ongoing technical problems have raised concerns about electricity availability, particularly during evening hours when demand can increase.
For now, residents of Lahore and other affected cities are waiting for updates on the restoration of electricity generation and the return of regular power supplies.
The key question remains: How soon will the technical faults at Tarbela and Mangla be resolved, and when will consumers get relief from unexpected power outages?