Peshawar High Court Orders No Load Shedding During Sehri and Iftar in Ramazan

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed power distribution companies to avoid load shedding during sehri and iftar hours throughout the current month of Ramazan, underscoring the importance of uninterrupted electricity during key fasting hours for citizens. The order was issued during a hearing on public service delivery and electricity distribution inefficiencies.

The bench, led by senior judges, emphasised that scheduled or unscheduled power outages at dawn and sunset impose undue hardship on residents observing fasts. It instructed relevant authorities and utility companies to take all necessary measures to maintain a continuous supply during these periods and to report compliance back to the court when required.

Court’s Rationale

During the proceedings, the court stressed that while power shortages and load management challenges are acknowledged, respect for constitutional rights and essential service delivery must guide operational decisions. Justices highlighted that maintaining electricity during sehri and iftar respects both public welfare and religious observance, especially in a province where temperatures remain high, and households rely on electric appliances during non-fasting hours.

The court’s order covered all distribution companies operating in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and called on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and related regulatory bodies to coordinate with utility providers to implement the directive effectively. Utility officials present in court acknowledged the challenges but assured the bench that efforts would be made to comply with the order.

Broader Context

Load shedding has been a persistent issue in Pakistan’s power sector, resulting from generation shortfalls, transmission constraints, and seasonal demand fluctuations. During Ramazan, demand patterns shift as households prepare for sehri before dawn and iftar at sunset, often increasing reliance on electric appliances such as refrigerators, water coolers, and cooking equipment outside fasting hours.

In previous years, fluctuations in electricity supply during the holy month drew public complaints and media attention, prompting authorities to consider temporary schedules aimed at reducing disruptions during critical times. The PHC’s order formalises this expectation by making uninterrupted supply a judicial directive.

What Comes Next

In its ruling, the bench instructed distribution companies to submit compliance reports to the court at regular intervals throughout Ramazan. It also hinted at possible follow-up hearings if outages persist during the protected hours. Officials will need to balance system constraints with the court’s order, potentially adjusting load management strategies to honour the judicial directive.

For residents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa observing the holy month, the decision offers assurance of steady power during sehri and iftar, conditions that utility providers are now legally bound to uphold.