This is apropos an article titled “A power crisis of geography” carried Business Recorder on 20 April 2026. The NGC spokesperson has said the article raises concerns regarding regional imbalances in Pakistan’s power system and the need for closer alignment between industrial growth and energy availability.
However, transmission planning is carried out based on projected demand, committed generation, fuel availability, and financial constraints, all of which evolve over time.
The current system stress has come to the surface primarily due to recent external disruptions, including the ongoing war-related impacts on fuel supply—particularly RLNG—which affected generation availability in the north. Additionally, system stability requirements, especially during periods of low hydel availability, necessitate continued operation of generation in the north, underscoring the operational complexity beyond simple geographic considerations.
Transmission infrastructure is developed with long lead times and is designed to ensure long-term reliability, flexibility, and resilience rather than short-term optimization. Several major north–south corridors and reinforcement projects have already been implemented or are under development to manage evolving power flows. While aligning industrial demand with energy availability is a useful long-term policy direction, it complements—not substitutes—the requirement for a strong and integrated national grid. Going forward, enhanced coordination across generation, fuel supply, transmission planning, and demand development—through integrated energy planning—will be key to ensuring efficient and sustainable system operation.
Muhamad Ibrahim (General Manager (Media & PR), Lahore)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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