Govt ends load shedding after LNG arrival

May 01, 2026 (MLN):  The government has declared an end to load shedding across the country after a fresh LNG supply eased pressure on the power system, bringing relief following days of outages.

Electricity cuts, which had earlier peaked at up to five hours in some areas, are gradually reduced to around two to two-and-a-half hours before being fully eliminated.

Authorities said emergency steps, including running costly fuel-based power plants, were taken to stabilize supply and restore normalcy.

Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the recent disruption was not due to any flaw in the power system but resulted from a temporary gas shortage linked to tensions between the United States and Iran.

He noted that hydropower output had risen to about 6,000 megawatts under the Indus River System Authority, helping ease the strain on electricity generation.

The minister also assured that steps are being taken to ensure load shedding does not return and that consumers will be shielded from the financial impact of expensive power generation.

The development follows the arrival of Pakistan’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo in nearly two months, when a U.S.-origin vessel docked at the Pakistan GasPort Terminal, offering much-needed relief to an energy market under strain.

The cargo was procured on a spot basis at a high price of around $18.40 per mmbtu, reflecting rising cost pressures as the country seeks alternative fuel supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The shipment marked a significant breakthrough after a prolonged supply disruption caused by instability in Middle Eastern shipping routes.

Pakistan had not received LNG since late February, when escalating conflict involving Iran disrupted regional energy logistics, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global transit route. The situation exposed the country’s heavy dependence on imported gas, especially from Qatar, to meet peak electricity demand.

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