RAWALPINDI: Sizzling heat and humid weather, coupled with frequent power outages, have left the residents struggling as they endured sleepless nights due to prolonged electricity disruptions by Iesco.

The temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday.

According to the Met Office, 40 degrees Celsius temperature was recorded in Islamabad with the humidity level of 43 per cent, but it felt like 50.1 degrees Celsius. From Monday evening, Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) started unannounced loadshedding in various parts of the twin cities.

Local residents faced problems in the hot weather without power supply. The residents said there was 100 per cent recovery of electricity bills in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad despite higher tariff but the government failed to provide uninterrupted electricity.

They said that despite the presence of a large number of solar panel systems in many areas, the government had failed to devise a policy to provide some relief from loadshedding to the common man during the hot weather, when people were already facing financial hardship.

Temporary load management continues due to unavailability of electricity as per demand, says Iesco

They said frequent power cuts had made life miserable and created serious problems for industrialists, traders, shopkeepers, students and patients at private and government hospitals. Tubewells stopped working and it created water shortage in the garrison city and traffic signals did not work for hours resulting in long queues of vehicles on main roads.

“People have been suffering from Iesco’s unscheduled loadshedding and its officials failed to answer to public complaints,” said Faisal Rehman, a resident of Faisal Colony. “I called 118 but no one picked up the phone, I also made a call on the number of SDO written on the electricity bill but he did not bother to respond.

Raheemullah, of Gangal, said that the government increased the tariffs of electricity every month but failed to provide the facility. “Iesco officials should inform people about the loadshedding schedule,” he said.

Mohammad Shafiq, a resident of Media Town, said that power cuts late at night were causing sleeplessness. “When we tried to contact SDO, whose telephone number is given in the electricity bill, he did not respond,” he said.

Israr Rajpoot, of Adiala Road, said the government had let them down by failing to resolve the power crisis.

“Water shortage hit many areas as motors cannot be operated without electricity,” Badar Munir, a resident of Westridge-III said. Despite repeated attempts by Dawn, Iesco spokesman Raja Asim could not be contacted for his comments on the power outages.

On the other hand, in a press release, Iesco said there was a shortfall of 400 megawatts from the national grid. It said that during the summer season, the demand increased and supply of electricity remained less.

“Temporary load management continues in IESCO region due to non-availability of electricity as per demand. Load management will be lifted as soon as the electricity quota is available as per demand from National Grid. It stated that we apologize for the temporary disruption in electricity supply,” it added.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026