Pakistan PM calls for minimizing load shedding amid heatwave, urges steps against power theft

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged authorities to minimize load shedding in Pakistan amid an ongoing heatwave and to take steps against power theft in the country, his office said.

The directives were issued during a meeting Sharif presided over in Islamabad to review the supply of electricity, load management and measures against power theft in parts of the country.

Power outages are not uncommon in Pakistan during the summer months when the demand on the national grid spikes sharply due to the widespread use of air conditioners and desert coolers.

These seasonal surges often lead to prolonged power outages, which fuel public discontent, particularly during the intense heatwaves that have swept across Pakistan in recent years.

“The situation of [power] load management in extreme heat should be improved, keeping the convenience of the public in view,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.

“Provincial governments and law enforcement agencies should fully support the anti-electricity theft campaign.”

The South Asian nation’s power sector has been plagued by high rates of power theft and distribution losses, resulting in accumulating debts across the production chain — a concern also raised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent bailout talks.

The government of PM Sharif has recently launched a campaign to curb power theft in the country to avoid huge financial losses.

The prime minister said he would personally review progress on the drive against power theft, urging authorities to ensure that consumers were not charged excessive bills.

“The national interest and the development and prosperity of the country require that all the government institutions perform their responsibilities effectively against electricity theft,” he added.