The Energy Minister says 74% of the country’s electricity now comes from local sources and the goal is to exceed 96% by 2034.
Pakistan’s Federal Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari speaks during an interview with Reuters in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 12, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan’s increasing dependence on domestic energy, including solar and wind power, nuclear reactors, coal and hydropower, has reduced its vulnerability to global LNG supply disruption, Energy Minister Awais ‌Leghari said. Reuters.
The war in the Middle East threatens shipments from Qatar, the world’s second largest producer after the United States, which supplies most of Pakistan’s imported LNG, used to fuel power plants during peak electricity demand.
“Pakistan has been steadily increasing its dependence on indigenous energy resources, and around 74% of our electricity generation now comes from local sources,” Leghari said, adding that the government aims to increase that figure above 96% by 2034.
The figures have not been previously reported. “The people-led solar revolution and past decisions to invest in nuclear, hydropower and local coal have played a role in increasing Pakistan’s self-reliance,” he added.
Pakistan has long struggled with electricity shortages and has historically faced hours of daily load shedding during peak summer demand.
The country now has surplus generation capacity after adding coal, LNG and nuclear plants, while demand growth has slowed and rooftop solar use has increased, at times exceeding grid demand in some centres.
Outages still occur in some parts of the country due to theft, lost lines and financial constraints, rather than lack of power.
“The worst case scenario”
Qatar halted LNG production earlier this month and Asian nations, which buy 80% of its output, are scrambling to cover the shortage.
LNG now accounts for about 10% of Pakistan’s electricity generation, and is mainly used to meet nighttime peak demand and stabilize the grid, Leghari said.
Column chart showing decline in LNG power generation in Pakistan between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25 Source: Pakistan Ministry of Energy Estimates. PHOTO: REUTERS
During the global energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country was forced to cut power supplies for prolonged periods after failing to secure LNG cargoes on the spot market.
“Even if LNG were discontinued or became too expensive, the impact on production capacity, industry or agriculture would be minimal,” Leghari said.
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But he said prolonged outages could still lead to additional shortages during the summer, when demand increases due to the use of air conditioners. “In the worst case scenario, if LNG shipments were stopped for several months, Pakistan could suffer one or two hours of load loss during peak summer nights,” Leghari said.
Such outages would likely affect some urban and rural areas, not industry or agriculture, he said, adding that Pakistan is developing battery storage to shift excess daytime solar energy to nighttime peaks.
The government canceled 21 LNG cargoes scheduled for 2026-27 under a long-term agreement with Italy’s Eni, as domestic solar and solar power growth reduced gas demand.
Local and green
“Pakistan is not expected to invest in any energy source that could put it at risk in terms of energy security,” Leghari said, stating that the government’s plans for the next six to eight years are to focus on local clean energy.
About 55% of electricity generation now comes from clean sources, which the government aims to increase above 90% by 2034, Leghari said.
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Hydropower produces about 40 terawatt hours of electricity annually, while nuclear power generates about 22 TWh and domestic coal about 12 TWh, according to the minister, constituting a significant part of Pakistan’s electricity supply without relying on imported fuel.
Rooftop solar installations have increased to more than 20 GW across Pakistan, with behind-the-meter capacity estimated between 12 and 14 GW and possibly up to 18 GW, dramatically reducing demand on the grid during the day, he said.
Hydropower production also increases in summer as river flows increase, adding up to 7,000 megawatts of capacity and helping to meet increased demand for electricity from air conditioning.
