Pakistan power generation increases 6.3% in March 2026

Power generation in Pakistan rose by 6.3% year-on-year (YoY) and 16.2% month-on-month (MoM) to 8,939GWh in March 2026, Topline Research said in a statement on Friday.

In February 2026, power generation in the country stood at 7,696 GWh.

Power generation cost (fuel cost) decreased by 15% YoY and 1% MoM to Rs8.1/units in March.

“This takes 9MFY26 cost to Rs8.2/units, down by 5% YoY,” Topline said.

The war in Iran has triggered a sharp global energy crisis, with disruptions to oil and gas production and the near-blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

The March data shows an increase in power generation, but April figures might be different as the country is grappling with a widening electricity shortfall of around 4,500 megawatts (MW), largely driven by a sharp drop in hydropower generation, forcing authorities to extend load management to as much as five hours during peak evening hours in several areas.

According to the Power Division, the gap between demand and supply intensified on Wednesday when electricity demand surged to about 18,000 MW. Hydropower generation declined by nearly 1,991 MW overnight, putting significant pressure on the system and prompting the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) to increase load-shedding duration based on regional demand patterns.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced a 2.25-hour daily suspension of power supply during peak hours across the country, excluding Karachi and Hyderabad, framed as a “peak relief strategy” intended to shield consumers from a significant surge in electricity tariffs.

The Power Division stated that a strategy had been designed to shield electricity consumers from the impact of surging global fuel prices, claiming to have already delivered a total relief of Rs46 billion.