Electricity Load Shedding Today in Pakistan: 

Electricity load shedding in Pakistan remains a localized issue rather than a nationwide crisis on . While winter typically sees reduced demand compared to summer peaks, outages continue in certain areas due to high-loss feeders, maintenance, or regional imbalances. No major national blackout or widespread rolling blackouts are reported today. Gas load shedding for heating is more prominent this season, but this article focuses on electricity.

Current National Overview

• No Widespread Crisis: Pakistan‘s power generation capacity exceeds demand in winter, bolstered by recent solar additions (now ~25% of electricity mix in some periods).
• Localized Load Management: Distribution companies (DISCOs) like LESCO, IESCO, GEPCO, MEPCO, and others perform targeted load shedding on high-loss or theft-prone feeders.
• Winter Trends: Outages are shorter than summer but persist in rural/high-loss areas. Rooftop solar boom has reduced grid reliance for many households and businesses.
• Holiday Context: No special announcements for Christmas suspensions, but demand is lower due to holidays.

Load Shedding in Major DISCOs

LESCO (Lahore and Surroundings)

• Status: Load management ongoing on specific feeders; many areas classified as low-loss enjoy minimal or zero shedding.
• How to Check: Visit lesco.gov.pk/ShutdownSchedule or enter your 14-digit reference number for personalized schedule.
• Typical Today: High-recovery urban areas: 0-2 hours; rural/high-loss: up to 4-6 hours intermittent.

IESCO (Islamabad, Rawalpindi)

• Status: Feeder-based shedding; many feeders listed as “N/A” for major outages in 2025 updates.
• How to Check: iesco.com.pk loadshedding management schedule.
• Typical Today: Urban Islamabad/Rawalpindi: minimal; peripheral areas: short durations.

GEPCO (Gujranwala Region)

• Status: Focus on zero load shedding feeders; view schedules for others.
• How to Check: gepco.com.pk/ElectricLoad.aspx.
• Typical Today: Improved recovery leading to reduced outages.

MEPCO (Multan and South Punjab)

• Status: Feeder-specific; use reference number for exact timings.
• How to Check: mepco.com.pk or CCMS portal.
• Typical Today: Varies widely; high-theft areas face longer cuts.

Other DISCOs (FESCO, PESCO, etc.)

• General: Similar feeder-based approach; winter reductions noted.
• Central Portal: Use ccms.pitc.com.pk for cross-DISCO searches by city, grid, or feeder.

Karachi: K-Electric Updates

• Status: Load shedding limited to high-loss areas; ~70% of Karachi reportedly exempt.
• Exempt Categories: Industries and low-loss residential/commercial zones.
• How to Check: ke.com.pk load-shed schedule (enter account number) or KE Live App.
• Typical Today: Exempt areas: no shedding; others: 4-10 hours depending on theft/recovery rates.

What Causes Today’s Load Shedding?

• High-Loss Feeders — Theft, non-payment, and illegal connections trigger controlled outages.
• Maintenance — Scheduled shutdowns for upgrades (check DISCO sites).
• Regional Imbalances — Transmission constraints in winter (low hydropower).
• Positive Shift — Massive rooftop solar adoption (4.9 GW net-metered by early 2025) reduces grid strain.

Impact on Daily Life

• Households → Disrupts heating, lighting, and appliances during winter evenings.
• Businesses → Small shops rely on inverters/solar; industries largely exempt.
• Festive Season → Lower demand helps, but plan for potential short outages.
• Economy → Ongoing improvements, but high-loss areas still affected.

How to Check Your Area’s Schedule Today

1. Central Tool — Visit ccms.pitc.com.pk – Search by reference number, city, feeder, or grid.
2. DISCO-Specific — Official websites/apps (LESCO, IESCO, etc.).
3. K-Electric — ke.com.pk or call 118.
4. Tips — Schedules update daily; check morning for accuracy.

Tips to Manage Power Outages

• Prepare Essentials — Charge devices, use LED lights, fill water tanks.
• Conserve Energy — Unplug non-essentials; shift usage to off-peak.
• Backup Options — Inverters, UPS, or solar (popular in Pakistan now).
• Go Solar — Net metering allows selling excess power back to grid.
• Safety — Avoid overloading circuits when power returns.

Future Outlook for 2026

• Improvements → More solar integration; potential negative pricing in sunny periods.
• Challenges → Circular debt, transmission upgrades needed.
• Policy Push → Government targets higher renewables; anti-theft drives ongoing.