ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has moved urgently to secure liquefied natural gas cargoes as a worsening electricity crisis and global supply disruptions push the country into emergency energy management mode ahead of peak summer demand.

Facing intensifying load shedding and shrinking fuel availability, the government has directed Pakistan LNG Limited to float a fast track tender for three LNG cargoes under revised procurement rules. The move comes after efforts to secure additional supplies from Qatar were disrupted by regional tensions affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials say the emergency tender seeks three cargoes for delivery at Port Qasim over the coming weeks, with authorities aiming to finalise contracts on an accelerated timeline. The decision signals growing urgency as Pakistan scrambles to stabilise fuel supplies for power generation.

The crisis has been compounded by soaring international LNG prices and declining domestic energy output. Spot market rates have surged sharply in recent weeks, while gas shortages have forced the power sector to rely increasingly on costly furnace oil and diesel, pushing generation costs to alarming levels.

With electricity demand expected to cross 23000 megawatts in May and thousands of megawatts of generation capacity lying idle due to LNG shortages, officials hope emergency imports will help ease nationwide power cuts. However, concerns remain that higher procurement costs could translate into increased electricity tariffs.

Adding to the pressure, hydropower generation has fallen well below capacity due to reduced water releases, further straining the grid. As authorities implement load management across the country, the emergency LNG push is being viewed as a critical test of Pakistan’s ability to navigate a rapidly escalating energy crunch.