Business Desk 
Apr 14, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government on Tuesday announced loadshedding of more than two hours during 'peak hours' and warned Pakistanis that citizens should be ready to strengthen themselves for an increase in electricity prices.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Power Division said: "In light of the situation, the government has decided that from 5pm to 1am (peak hours), electricity supply will be suspended for nearly 2:30 hours daily.
"The government aims to minimise the use of expensive fuel and prevent the possible increase in electricity prices." The major move comes as the world grapples with an energy crisis following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israel strikes, sending governments scrambling to conserve power.
Power Division further added that at present, the “biggest challenge” the government faces is during peak hours, where there is a significant increase in electricity demand, specifically because these days, the production of hydel power plants has decreased substantially.
“If expensive fuel is relied upon to meet these requirements, it can lead to a considerable increase in electricity prices,” the spokesperson said, further explaining the reason behind the loadshedding.
This situation is continuously monitored and the premier has given Power Division the task that “there should not be a huge increase in electricity price” and “if due to furnace oil use some increase in price also happens, then measures must be taken to [minimise the possible increase]”.
Given the PM’s instructions to ensure power tariff remains low, the Power Division’s spokesperson said 80 MMCFD local gas has been provided to power plants, due to which not only Rs0.80 per unit increase in electricity price has been prevented.
The purpose of the over two-hour peak hour load management is to “prevent” approximately Rs3 per unit increase in electricity price, the Power Division said: "Despite limiting furnace oil use, we have to be ready for approximately Rs1.5 per unit increase, which, if these measures were not taken, would have caused Rs5 to Rs6 per unit increase."
The Power Division added that instructions have been issued to DISCOs that timings of electricity shutdown of every feeder should be shared with consumers at every level, so that they are aware of their electricity timings.
The Power Division added: “It is clear that this action is not load shedding or load management, but is part of the government’s ‘Peak Relief Strategy’ for reducing possible increase in price during peak hours.”
Apart from this schedule, it added, “no” electricity shutdown should happen. “Where, due to any local fault, an electricity shutdown is required, the relevant offices will inform consumers about it.”
