Pakistan's power generation rises 7% in July

August 18, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's power generation rose 7% year-on-year to 15,122 GWh in July 2026, marking the second-highest output for the month on record, driven by the highest-ever hydel, local coal and imported coal generation.

Generation was also up 13% on a month-on-month basis compared to 13,431 GWh recorded in June 2026, as per data compiled by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Research.

Fuel-wise, hydel remained the single largest contributor at 6,019 GWh, up 6% YoY, while imported coal posted the sharpest jump, nearly doubling to 2,169 GWh from 1,140 GWh a year earlier, along with RFO.

RLNG-based generation, by contrast, fell 33% YoY to 1,629 GWh, while gas-fired output declined 9% YoY.

The table below breaks down generation by source on a YoY and MoM basis:

Hydel retained the largest share of the generation mix at 39.8%, followed by imported coal at 14.3% and local coal at 10.9%, while RLNG's share fell to 10.8% from 17.3% a year earlier, reflecting the sharp decline in RLNG-based output over the period.

The cost of power generation surged 38% YoY to Rs10.75/kWh in July, up from Rs8.99/kWh in June, on the back of a higher RLNG and furnace oil mix, including greater reliance on spot RLNG cargoes, while elevated international oil prices added further pressure on generation costs.

RFO-based generation cost jumped 61% YoY to Rs50.08/kWh, while RLNG costs rose 115% YoY to Rs47.38/kWh.

Amid the sharp rise in generation costs, DISCOs sought a positive fuel cost adjustment (FCA) of Rs2.52/kWh for July 2026, the highest sought since June 2024.

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