KARACHI: With the power shortfall surging to 7,674 megawatts, Pakistanis face prolonged hours of loadshedding.

Pakistan’s electricity demand and supply is as follows:

• Total demand: 29,900MW
• Total power generated: 22,226MW

Power generation distribution:

• Hydro-power: 5,625MW
• Government thermal plants: 1,327MW
• Independent Power Producers (IPPs): 11,500MW
• Wind power plants: 1,235MW
• Solar power plants: 122MW

Urban areas are facing anywhere from 6-18 hours of unannounced loadshedding, while rural areas face around 18 hours of power outages.

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh has hinted at nationalising the sole power provider in Karachi, K-Electric, saying that the provincial government has taken notice of the prolonged loadshedding.

Shaikh said in a media briefing that the Sindh government has ordered the K-Electric management to provide the loadshedding schedule. “K-Electric is claiming that only announced load-shedding is being done for 7-8 hours [in Karachi].”

Protests over loadshedding are taking place across Pakistan as power outages and sweltering heatwaves have made lives miserable.