Pakistan's Power Shortfall Reported Above 4,000 MW, Load Shedding Up to 4 Hours
Reports say the power shortfall has crossed 4,000 MW, with 3 to 4 hours of load shedding. See what is reported, what is unconfirmed, and how to complain.
Pakistan's electricity shortfall has reportedly crossed 4,000 megawatts (MW), and cities and villages are facing three to four hours of load shedding. The figures were reported on 5 and 6 October 2026 and attributed to sources in the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), which runs the national grid.
We looked for an official statement on 7 October 2026 and did not find one. The Power Division and NEPRA websites showed no notice on the shortfall. So every number in this article is reported, not confirmed, and we say so each time.
The shortfall is reported at more than 4,000 MW
Reports say the national shortfall has passed 4,000 MW, with some power plants offline and less hydropower. Cities and rural areas are reported to face three to four hours of load shedding. These figures come from unnamed sources, not a published statement.
A shortfall is the gap between what homes and businesses want and what the system can supply. When the gap opens, distribution companies cut feeders in turns to protect the grid. That is load shedding.
| Item | What was reported |
|---|---|
| National shortfall | More than 4,000 MW, per NTDC sources |
| Load shedding in cities and villages | Three to four hours |
| Lahore region (LESCO) | Shortfall above 1,500 MW |
| Pattern in the Lahore region | One hour off after every hour on |
| Reasons given | Plants offline, less hydropower, less diesel and gas generation |
| Outlook | Severe load shedding warned for the next several days |
| Official statement | Not found on 7 October 2026 |
Reported causes are plant outages and lower hydropower
Reports name several plants taken offline, lower water for hydropower, and less diesel and gas power. The reports do not name the plants or say when they return. We cannot check that, so we do not guess at dates.
The Lahore figure comes from LESCO sources, according to the same reports. It says the Lahore region alone is short by more than 1,500 MW. That is about three eighths of the national figure, if both numbers are right.
Both numbers are unconfirmed. The best sign to watch is an official statement from the Power Division with a restoration date.
Check your own schedule first, and then ask for the notice
Your distribution company decides which feeders go off and when. In Karachi, K-Electric (KE) publishes a feeder-wise schedule you can check with your account number. Elsewhere, call 118 and ask for your feeder's timings.
In Karachi, text LS and your 13-digit account number to 8119, or use the schedule page on the KE website. The steps are in how to check your K-Electric load shedding schedule. KE's own schedule PDF, which we read on 1 October 2026, said load shedding there is based on feeder losses.
Outside Karachi, NEPRA's complaint guidance and our earlier reading both point to 118 as the common helpline for distribution companies. Ask for the feeder name, the cut timings and a complaint number.
- Find your feeder name on your electricity bill.
- Check the company's schedule or call 118.
- Write down each outage time for three days.
- Ask for a complaint number for every call.
- Escalate to NEPRA if the company does not answer.
NEPRA's 2026 rules set notice, restoration and shedding order
NEPRA's Performance Standards (Distribution) Regulations 2026, notified on 25 August 2026, require 48 hours' notice of planned outages. They also set fault restoration clocks and an order for load shedding. The compensation part does not apply for two years.
We downloaded and read these regulations from nepra.org.pk on 7 September 2026. Our guide to NEPRA's service deadlines for electricity companies has the full detail. The points that matter in a shortage are these.
- Planned interruptions need 48 hours' advance notice by text message, email or other electronic means.
- A blown fuse should be fixed within four hours in a city and eight in a village.
- Companies must keep plans to shed up to 30 per cent of connected load.
- Shedding must be rotational, in blocks, and fair within each category.
The regulations also publish the order in which feeders are cut. Dedicated residential and commercial feeders come first. Dedicated feeders serving schools and hospitals come near the end, and defence and strategic installations come last. We report this as published, without comment.
One honest limit. The rules govern how a company behaves. They do not say how long a national shortage may last. A grid short by 4,000 MW will still shed load. The rules decide how fairly it is done and what notice you get.
How to complain if cuts are unannounced or too long
Call 118 first and get a complaint number. If the company does not act, file a complaint with NEPRA through its online complaint system. NEPRA's own procedure expects you to try the distribution company first.
The steps, with what to attach, are in how to complain to NEPRA about your electricity company. For Karachi specifically, the K-Electric complaint guide covers 118, WhatsApp and the NEPRA form. Complaints older than one year cannot be processed by NEPRA, so do not wait.
If an outage leaves you with a bill dispute or a late fee, our guide to the electricity bill late payment surcharge explains how to dispute it.
Common questions
How big is Pakistan's electricity shortfall in October 2026?
Reports say it has crossed 4,000 MW. The figure is attributed to NTDC sources, and we found no official statement confirming it on 7 October 2026.
How many hours of load shedding are reported?
Three to four hours in cities and rural areas, according to the reports. The Lahore region is reported to see one hour off after every hour on.
Why is there load shedding now?
Reports blame power plants taken offline, lower hydropower and lower diesel and gas generation. No official explanation has been published that we could find.
How long will the load shedding last?
Reports warn of severe load shedding for the next several days. No official end date has been announced that we could find.
How do I check my load shedding schedule?
In Karachi, text LS and your account number to 8119 or use KE's schedule page. Elsewhere, call 118 and ask your company for your feeder's timings.
Can I complain about unannounced load shedding?
Yes. Call 118 for a complaint number, then escalate to NEPRA if the company does not respond. NEPRA's 2026 rules require 48 hours' notice of planned outages.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 7 October 2026. The shortfall, load shedding hours, LESCO figures, causes and warning are reported figures attributed to NTDC and LESCO sources on 5 and 6 October 2026. We looked for confirmation on power.gov.pk and nepra.org.pk and found none. The NEPRA rules are from our reading of the notified Performance Standards (Distribution) Regulations 2026 on 7 September 2026, and the KE schedule details from KE's own page on 1 October 2026. We have not been able to confirm any of the October figures with an official body. Nothing here is advice on electrical safety.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
