Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: The Power Division on Tuesday announced that electricity generation from hydel sources has surged to 5,000 megawatts during peak hours since April 17, 2026, providing significant relief to the power system. According to a spokesperson, increased water releases from dams in line with provincial indents have enabled hydropower generation to reach 5,000MW during peak night hours. The spokesperson added that the availability of an additional 400MW of electricity from the southern region has further stabilized the grid and supported supply to the central region. As a result, no load management was carried out during peak night hours on April 17, 18, and 19. READ MORE: Higher dam releases ease power system pressure On April 20, most power distribution companies limited load management to one hour during the night. However, Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) implemented two hours of load management during peak hours. The Power Division also revealed that LNG-based power plants with a combined capacity of 5,500MW are currently not generating electricity due to unavailability of LNG. These plants will resume operations once fuel supply is restored. However, around 500MW is being generated from the Balloki Power Plant using indigenous gas, according to generation data. The spokesperson reiterated that load management linked to electricity theft and system losses will continue across distribution companies. He clarified that such load shedding is policy-driven and separate from peak load management, adding that it will persist even after LNG supplies are restored. Last week, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari defended revenue-based load shedding during a press conference, stating that efforts are underway to formalize the mechanism in line with the NEPRA Act. He warned that abolishing the practice could add approximately Rs400 billion to the circular debt. However, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has declared revenue-based load shedding illegal and imposed penalties on distribution companies and K-Electric. The Ministry of Law and Justice has also termed the practice a violation of fundamental rights. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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