President Zardari Directs Steps to Reduce Loadshedding, Strengthen Water Security

Key Developments:

• President Asif Ali Zardari ordered authorities to minimise nationwide loadshedding and ensure transparency in power management.
• Energy shortages linked to LNG supply disruptions and rising peak-hour demand were reviewed.
• The president raised concerns over regional water security and India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

ISLAMABAD (Dawn News) — April 16, 2026: President Asif Ali Zardari has directed authorities to make all possible efforts to minimise electricity loadshedding across Pakistan while ensuring transparency in load management decisions.

According to a statement issued after a high-level meeting at Aiwan-i-Sadr, the president reviewed water resource management, energy availability and broader regional developments affecting Pakistan’s stability.

The President’s Secretariat stated that Zardari “stressed that any load management should be carried out strictly in a transparent and declared manner, in line with prior public announcements, so that citizens are fully informed and disruption is reduced.”

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Energy Shortfall and Load Management

The directive followed the government’s announcement of limited daily loadshedding during peak hours to prevent a sharp rise in electricity tariffs. Officials briefed the meeting that demand surges between evening hours remain the primary challenge due to reduced hydel generation.

The Power Division Pakistan noted that meeting demand through costly fuels could significantly increase consumer electricity prices, prompting controlled load management measures.

Energy pressures have also intensified after LNG supply disruptions linked to regional instability affecting gas production routes, increasing reliance on alternative generation sources.

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Concerns Over Regional Water Security

The meeting also focused on Pakistan’s long-term water availability and governance challenges. President Zardari expressed concern over what the official statement described as the “weaponisation of water by India by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.”

The Indus Waters Treaty, long regarded as a key mechanism regulating river water distribution between Pakistan and India, has come under strain amid heightened regional tensions.

Zardari warned that attempts to “use water as a political tool is a matter of serious consequence,” stressing the need to safeguard Pakistan’s water rights through diplomatic and legal channels.

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Push for Water Conservation Measures

The president directed authorities to accelerate national conservation initiatives, including rainwater harvesting systems, construction of small dams, recharge wells and expanded water storage infrastructure.

He described water conservation as a “national imperative,” particularly given climate pressures and evolving regional dynamics.

The statement further noted that Zardari emphasised the importance of regional stability, expressing confidence that continued diplomatic engagement could help achieve a workable path forward regarding ongoing developments involving Iran and the wider region.

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