Pakistan’s Power Division has announced a new “peak hours relief strategy” aimed at preventing a sharp rise in electricity prices, while ensuring stable power supply across the country. The spokesperson said that due to continuous reforms and better planning, electricity prices have already decreased by an average of 71 paisa per unit from July to February, providing a total relief of around 46 billion rupees to consumers.

Officials highlighted that improvements in system efficiency, strict implementation of merit order, and prioritizing low-cost power generation sources played a key role in reducing costs. Enhanced planning and better utilization of production capacity also helped minimize transmission and administrative losses.

However, authorities warned that the biggest challenge remains during peak hours, from 5 PM to 1 AM, when electricity demand rises significantly. This situation has worsened due to reduced hydropower generation, forcing reliance on expensive fuel sources that could increase electricity tariffs.

To address this, the government has decided to implement around 2.25 hours of controlled power suspension during peak hours. Officials clarified that this is not traditional load shedding but part of a strategy to avoid a potential increase of up to 3 rupees per unit in electricity prices.

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Under special directives, local gas supply of 80 MMCFD has been provided to power plants, helping prevent an additional increase of 80 paisa per unit and reducing the need for further load management.

Authorities said that even with these measures, a minor increase of about 1.5 rupees per unit may still occur, but without them, prices could have surged by 5 to 6 rupees per unit. The government has directed distribution companies to share clear schedules with consumers to ensure transparency and minimize inconvenience.