Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan administrated Kashmir – Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region administered by Pakistan in Kashmir, continue to face severe electricity shortages, despite the area’s enormous potential for hydropower. According to official data from the Gilgit-Baltistan Power Department (January 2026), the region’s installed electricity generation capacity stands at 211 megawatts (MW), yet actual production barely reaches 91.27 MW.
The gap between supply and demand is striking. Summer electricity requirements peak at 254.82 MW, leaving a shortfall of 132.46 MW, while winter demand rises sharply to 453.19 MW, resulting in an alarming 361.92 MW deficit. This chronic energy shortfall forces authorities to impose extreme load-shedding schedules, leaving many communities with electricity for only two hours per day.
Hydropower: A Massive Untapped Resource
Gilgit-Baltistan is home to immense hydropower potential, estimated at 40,000 MW, yet the region’s infrastructure has not been able to harness this resource effectively. Experts argue that tapping even a fraction of this capacity could not only eliminate chronic power shortages but also stimulate local industry, agriculture, and mining sectors, which collectively extract over 11,000 tons of minerals annually.
Projects like the Diamer-Basha Dam, currently under construction on the Indus River, promise a generation capacity of 4,500 MW, which could transform the region’s energy landscape. However, large-scale projects face delays, funding challenges, and logistical hurdles in the rugged mountainous terrain of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Socioeconomic Impact of Power Shortages
The lack of reliable electricity affects nearly every aspect of daily life in Gilgit-Baltistan. Households, businesses, hospitals, and schools all struggle with limited power availability, particularly during harsh winter months. Farmers and local industries are constrained in processing and storage, while residents rely heavily on costly fuel-based generators.
Energy analysts emphasize that strategic investment in small and medium-scale hydropower projects, combined with modernization of the transmission network, could provide sustainable, long-term solutions.
Path Forward: Policy and Investment
To address the region’s energy crisis, policymakers highlight the need for:
- Accelerated completion of major hydropower projects (e.g., Diamer-Basha Dam)
- Decentralized renewable energy solutions for remote communities
- Infrastructure upgrades to reduce transmission losses
- Integrated planning with Pakistan’s national grid for consistent energy distribution
Experts warn that without urgent action, the power deficit in Gilgit-Baltistan will continue to hamper economic growth, limit access to essential services, and perpetuate the cycle of energy poverty in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Quick Facts (Gilgit-Baltistan Power, January 2026)
- Installed Capacity: 211 MW
- Actual Generation: 91.27 MW
- Summer Demand: 254.82 MW → Shortfall: 132.46 MW
- Winter Demand: 453.19 MW → Shortfall: 361.92 MW
- Hydropower Potential: 40,000 MW
- Annual Mineral Extraction: 11,000+ tons
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