[Today’s Prayer] Pakistan suffers severe blackouts due to LNG shortage… industry and mobile communications also “paralyzed”

Pakistan, which has been drawing attention as a mediator in ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, is suffering from a severe power shortage due to disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, with blackouts lasting more than half the day in many parts of the country.

According to Bloomberg on the 19th (local time), Mohammad Rizwan (52), a resident of Lahore in northeastern Pakistan, experienced daily power outages at home last week. With electricity cut off from morning until evening and gas supplied for only about two hours a day, he has had to rely on expensive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. He lamented, “These blackouts have taken us back to the Stone Age.”

Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy stated that planned power outages are being implemented for 2 to 3 hours in the evening.

However, interviews with households and businesses across the country revealed that in some areas, outages last more than half the day, meaning the actual duration is much longer than officially stated. As a result, families are facing serious inconvenience, such as sitting together in darkness and eating dinner by the light of their mobile phones.

According to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, some industrial facilities have experienced power outages lasting around eight hours in recent days, causing disruptions such as shutdowns in manufacturing and other sectors. In the IT sector, Ufone, a major telecommunications company in Pakistan, warned that if outages continue for more than eight hours, backup batteries at base stations could be depleted, potentially leading to a collapse of mobile communication services.

The main cause of this blackout crisis is the shortage of LNG. Pakistan relies on LNG-fired power plants for about 20% of its total electricity generation. However, LNG imports were cut off after a major natural gas production facility in Qatar—Pakistan’s primary supplier—was destroyed in an Iranian attack in mid-March.

This crisis has been exacerbated by rising temperatures ahead of summer, which sharply increases electricity demand, while hydropower generation decreases. Although solar panels have become widespread in Pakistan in recent years, most operate without battery energy storage systems (BESS) to reduce costs, so solar power supply also stops after sunset.

Source: Yonhap News

“Praise be to the Lord, for He showed me the wonders of His love when I was in a city under siege. In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” (Psalm 31:21–22)

We hear that after Iran’s attack on Qatar in mid-March destroyed natural gas production facilities, Pakistan’s LNG imports were cut off, leading to disruptions in LNG supply. As a result, blackouts are occurring across the country, and there is even a risk of mobile communication services being shut down.

Although Pakistan is receiving global attention as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran, internally it is suffering from a severe power shortage. Families are eating meals by the light of their phones, and many industries have come to a halt. Lord, You who created light, please come as the light for the people of Pakistan.

Let the people of Pakistan come to know that it is not any other god, but only Jesus who hears their cries. In this time of darkness, let them realize the preciousness of light, and above all, let it become a time for them to encounter the Lord who shines light into their souls. Show them the wonderful love of Jesus.

Let the church in Pakistan rise up with greater strength, crying out to You and praising the Lord, becoming a church that proclaims Your love. Through the love of Jesus, break off all darkness and false spirits that hold Pakistan, and let them move forward.

So that Pakistan may stand firm on the strong foundation of faith and become a nation that influences all nations with the love of Jesus, who is the light, and the word of life.