Lahore: Residents across Lahore and surrounding districts reported ongoing electricity outages on Thursday, contradicting claims by the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) that loadshedding has been eliminated in most areas of its service network.
The continued interruptions in both urban and rural areas have raised concerns about the reliability of the city’s electricity supply.
LESCO Maintains Zero Loadshedding Except on High-Loss Feeders
LESCO officials reiterated that the utility is observing zero loadshedding in all areas except those connected to high-loss feeders, where technical losses are higher and recovery rates are low. The company stated that electricity is being supplied according to actual demand from the national grid.
Earlier in the week, a LESCO spokesperson claimed that outages of three to six hours were limited solely to high-loss feeders, while the rest of the network was functioning without interruption.
Urban Residents Report Unscheduled Power Cuts
Despite official assurances, residents in Lahore neighborhoods reported unscheduled outages lasting one to two hours, even in areas classified as low-loss.
A Johar Town resident said electricity remained off for nearly two hours on Thursday, while in Green Town, outages occurred for two hours split between morning and evening.
These power cuts also affected water supply, as tube wells were shut down, disrupting daily household routines.
Rural Areas Continue to Suffer Extended Loadshedding
Rural localities faced even longer outages than urban centers. In Kasur city, electricity was cut for around one and a half hours, while surrounding villages experienced four to eight hours of daily loadshedding.
Residents of Batapur, near Lahore, reported power cuts lasting four to five hours daily, affecting both domestic life and local businesses.
LESCO Acknowledges Outages on Low-Loss Feeders
A senior LESCO official confirmed that even feeders classified as non-loss-making are experiencing power cuts, highlighting operational challenges beyond the high-loss feeder network. This admission has fueled public dissatisfaction and calls for greater transparency in feeder-wise electricity distribution.
Energy Experts Cite Rising Demand and Infrastructure Bottlenecks
Experts attribute the unscheduled outages to seasonal demand spikes, technical bottlenecks, and transmission limitations, even when electricity generation capacity appears sufficient.
With higher temperatures expected, there are concerns that loadshedding could increase unless infrastructure improvements and grid coordination measures are implemented. Consumer groups are urging authorities to prioritize power distribution network upgrades and enhance communication with citizens regarding electricity schedules.
Public Trust Undermined by Gap Between Claims and Reality
The growing disconnect between LESCO’s official statements and on-ground experiences continues to erode public confidence. Residents demand accurate reporting of outage durations, feeder performance, and restoration schedules to mitigate inconvenience and improve trust in the electricity supply system.
