Surplus Power Package drives 2,164 GWh jump in industrial and agricultural demand

Pakistan’s Surplus Power Package has added 2,164 GWh to industrial and agricultural electricity consumption from December 2025 to February 2026, the Information Ministry said Friday.

The scheme provided cumulative financial relief of Rs20.83 billion: Rs19.6 billion for industries and Rs1.14 billion for agricultural consumers. B3 industrial users saved the most at Rs8.76 billion, followed by B2 at Rs5.34 billion, B4 at Rs4.02 billion, and B1 at Rs1.48 billion.

Launched under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initiative in December 2025, the package offered the lowest incremental rate of Rs22.98 per unit. Incremental consumption under the scheme accounted for 23% of all units sold to industrial and agricultural sectors during the period.

Participation was strong: 67% of B4 industries (83 of 123), 52% of B3 (1,812 of 3,470), 48% of B2 (33,449 of 69,124), 43% of B1 (98,718 of 229,282), and 34% of agricultural consumers (82,334 of 242,451) availed the package.

In terms of energy share, B1 led at 27%, B4 at 25%, B2 at 24%, B3 at 22%, and agriculture at 21%. January and February 2026 saw the strongest impact, with electricity demand rising 12% and 11% year-on-year, signalling industries’ shift toward cost-effective grid power over expensive self-generation.