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Over 2.8 lakh households remain without electricity; Govt yet to decide on relief despite earlier assurances.
Tens of thousands of families in flood-affected regions across Pakistan remain in darkness, as more than 283,000 consumers are still without electricity despite ongoing restoration efforts. According to the latest Power Division report, torrential rains and flooding damaged or shut down 51 grid stations and 537 feeders, cutting off power to over 1.73 million consumers. Electricity supply has since been restored to nearly 1.45 million, but hundreds of thousands remain affected.
Field teams are wading through submerged areas to repair lines and feeders, but the situation remains dire in southern Punjab and interior Sindh where floodwaters have not receded. In Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Sargodha, and Mianwali, 28 grid stations and 81 feeders were hit, leaving more than 200,000 consumers without power. Over half have been reconnected, while the rest must wait until water levels decline.
Full restoration has been achieved in Lahore and Sheikhupura, while other districts under LESCO still have around 6,500 consumers awaiting power, expected by September 12. In southern Punjab, particularly under MEPCO, conditions are worst: 199,000 consumers were affected but only 18,000 reconnected so far, leaving the majority without electricity for the foreseeable future.
In contrast, GEPCO, PESCO, and HESCO have made significant progress, restoring supply to nearly all affected consumers. Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO) has also reconnected most feeders in North Waziristan and Khyber, with full restoration targeted by September 15.
Families stranded in waterlogged villages face severe hardships without electricity. Lack of power has disrupted access to clean water, food storage, and communications. “Every night is filled with fear and frustration,” said a resident of Muzaffargarh. “Children cry in the dark, and we cannot even charge our phones to call for help.”
Meanwhile, the government has yet to make a formal decision on providing electricity bill relief to flood-affected consumers. On September 9, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain had announced that relief would be extended, but Power Division sources confirmed no official instructions have been issued. “When such directions are received, we will assess financial implications and propose a way forward,” said officials.
Sources further indicated that, since an IMF mission is due in Pakistan this month, the issue may be taken up with the Fund for consent. The Finance Ministry has not announced a final arrival date for the delegation.
Distribution companies continue to submit daily loss reports to the Power Division and the Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC), formerly PEPCO, which oversees all matters related to Discos and international financial institutions. The government is considering temporarily deferring bill payments for a few months but stressed that consumers will eventually be required to clear them.
The Federal Cabinet has also discussed power sector reforms, directing the Power Division team led by Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari to take further measures.
For now, as restoration efforts drag on, flood-hit families remain trapped between power outages and mounting financial uncertainty, waiting for both electricity and clarity on government relief.
