Editorial
Why Does Electricity Go Out When It Rains in Pakistan?
LAHORE – Why does electricity go out when it rains in Pakistan? This question becomes common every monsoon season as heavy rainfall often brings unexpected power interruptions across the country. While rain provides relief from extreme heat, millions of households frequently face electricity outages due to damaged infrastructure, grid faults, safety shutdowns and weather-related challenges.
From Karachi to Lahore and Islamabad, heavy rain frequently causes power failures, leaving residents without electricity for hours. Although rain itself does not directly create a shortage of electricity, it exposes weaknesses in Pakistan’s power distribution system.
The main reasons behind rain-related load-shedding include ageing infrastructure, damaged electricity equipment, safety shutdowns, overloaded distribution networks, illegal connections and delayed maintenance.
This Image is Ai generated and used for Illustration purposes only.
Quick Overview: Why Rain Causes Power Outages in Pakistan
| Cause Factor | Technical Process | Main Impact on Grid |
| Precautionary Safety Shutdown | Power utilities (like LESCO, K-Electric) proactively shut off local feeders during downpours. | Prevents fatal electrocutions and equipment damage in waterlogged neighborhoods. |
| Automatic System Tripping | Heavy moisture and water intrusion seep into exposed transformers and high-tension lines. | Triggers automatic safety switches to trip, isolating faults and shutting down entire circuits. |
| Outdated Infrastructure | Older distribution transformers utilize fragile, exposed outdoor fuses (locally called D’s and T’s). | Exposed components easily short-circuit, burn, or blow out under heavy rainfall or humidity. |
| Physical Weather Damage | Monsoon winds and heavy downpours uproot trees, snap overhead wires, and collapse old poles. | Directly severs physical transmission lines, causing sustained localized blackouts. |
| Urban Flooding | Excess rainwater submerges ground-level electrical substations and localized consumer meters. | Prevents repair crews from accessing faults safely until municipal water is drained. |
How Rain Affects Pakistan’s Electricity System
Pakistan’s electricity network depends on thousands of kilometres of transmission lines, transformers, feeders and distribution stations.
During normal weather conditions, these systems can handle daily demand. However, heavy rainfall creates additional challenges.
Water and Electricity Equipment Do Not Mix
Electricity equipment requires protection from moisture and water exposure. During heavy rain, water can enter distribution boxes, transformers and underground connections.
As a result, electricity companies often switch off affected feeders to prevent:
- Electrical fires
- Equipment damage
- Public safety risks
- Short circuits
These temporary shutdowns may appear as load-shedding, although they often happen as emergency safety measures.
Outdated Electricity Infrastructure Increases Problems
One of the biggest reasons Pakistan faces frequent power interruptions during rain is the condition of its electricity infrastructure.
Many parts of the distribution network were built decades ago and now struggle to handle:
- Growing electricity demand
- Extreme weather conditions
- Urban expansion
- Increased air-conditioning usage
According to Pakistan’s power sector reports, distribution losses remain a major challenge for electricity companies. Technical losses and outdated systems reduce the reliability of supply, especially during extreme weather.
Why Karachi Faces Frequent Rain-Related Power Failures
Karachi experiences some of the most visible rain-related electricity problems in Pakistan.
The city’s electricity provider, K-Electric, often temporarily shuts down some areas during heavy rainfall to protect residents and equipment.
Karachi faces additional challenges because:
- Many electricity cables run through densely populated areas.
- Underground water accumulation affects electrical equipment.
- Rapid urban expansion increases pressure on the network.
- Illegal connections create additional load.
During monsoon rains, areas with damaged infrastructure or water accumulation often experience longer restoration times.
Why Lahore Experiences Outages During Rain
In Lahore, electricity distribution is managed mainly by Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).
Heavy rainfall can affect Lahore’s electricity network because:
- Trees and branches can damage overhead wires.
- Transformers may develop faults.
- Flooded streets make repair work difficult.
- High electricity demand puts additional pressure on feeders.
Although Lahore has seen improvements in electricity availability in recent years, local faults during storms remain a recurring issue.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi Rain-Related Electricity Issues
Islamabad and Rawalpindi also experience power disruptions during heavy rainfall.
The region faces problems including:
- Falling trees near transmission lines
- Landslides in surrounding areas
- Damaged transformers
- Faults in local distribution networks
The hilly terrain around Islamabad can make repair work more difficult, especially during severe weather conditions.
Grid Failures and Transmission System Problems
Pakistan’s electricity network operates through a complex system connecting power plants, transmission lines and distribution companies.
However, failures can occur when one part of the system experiences problems.
Common causes include:
Overloaded Transmission Lines
When electricity demand rises sharply, transmission equipment operates under greater stress.
During summer rainfall, households often continue using:
- Fans
- Air conditioners
- Refrigerators
- Water pumps
This increased demand can overload local systems.
Transformer Failures
Transformers convert electricity into usable voltage for homes and businesses.
However, overloaded or poorly maintained transformers can fail during storms.
A single transformer failure can affect hundreds of consumers.
Illegal Electricity Connections Add Pressure
Illegal electricity connections, commonly known as electricity theft, remain a major challenge for Pakistan’s power sector.
These connections increase pressure on distribution networks by:
- Overloading transformers
- Increasing technical losses
- Creating safety hazards
During rainfall, already stressed systems become more vulnerable to breakdowns.
Maintenance Challenges During Extreme Weather
Electricity companies need regular maintenance to prevent failures.
However, maintenance work becomes more difficult during:
- Heavy rainfall
- Flooding
- Strong winds
- Limited road access
Furthermore, emergency repairs often take longer because workers must wait for safer conditions before handling electrical equipment.
Is rain the real cause of Load-Shedding?
Rain itself does not create electricity shortages.
Instead, rainfall exposes existing weaknesses in the electricity network.
A strong and modern power system can continue operating during storms with limited interruptions. However, weak infrastructure increases the impact of weather events.
Therefore, frequent rain-related outages highlight deeper issues, including:
- Infrastructure investment gaps
- Distribution losses
- Maintenance problems
- Network expansion challenges
How Pakistan can reduce rain-related power outages
Experts believe Pakistan can improve electricity reliability through:
-
Modernising Distribution Networks
Electricity companies need to upgrade:
- Old transformers
- Transmission lines
- Distribution equipment
-
Installing Weather-Resistant Equipment
Modern systems can reduce damage from:
- Water exposure
- Strong winds
- Lightning strikes
-
Reducing Electricity Theft
- Improving monitoring systems and preventing illegal connections can reduce pressure on the grid.
-
Better Urban Planning
Cities need improved coordination between:
- Electricity companies
- Municipal authorities
- Development agencies
This can reduce problems caused by flooding and construction damage.
Conclusion
Rain-related load-shedding in Pakistan is not simply caused by rainfall. Instead, storms expose weaknesses in an electricity system that faces ageing infrastructure, overloaded networks, maintenance challenges and distribution losses.
While electricity companies often take temporary safety measures during heavy rain, long-term improvements require investment in stronger grids, modern equipment and better maintenance systems.
Until these improvements take place, many Pakistanis will continue to experience power interruptions whenever severe weather arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does electricity go out when it rains in Pakistan?
Electricity often goes out during rain because water, strong winds and falling trees can damage power equipment. Companies also shut down some areas temporarily for safety reasons.
Does rain cause load-shedding in Pakistan?
Rain does not directly cause load-shedding. However, it can trigger power failures by damaging infrastructure and creating safety risks.
Why does Karachi lose electricity during rain?
Karachi experiences outages during rain due to water accumulation, damaged equipment, overloaded networks and emergency shutdowns by the electricity provider.
Why does electricity come back late after rainfall?
Restoration can take time because workers must identify faults, access damaged areas and safely repair electrical equipment.
How can Pakistan reduce rain-related power outages?
Pakistan can reduce outages by upgrading infrastructure, improving maintenance, reducing electricity theft and investing in modern weather-resistant power systems.
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ISLAMABAD – Microsoft is testing a new Copilot feature that can help Windows 11 users understand their computer’s performance. The experimental feature, called PC Insights, allows Copilot to analyze hardware details, storage information and system resources in simple language.
Unlike traditional tools such as Task Manager and Windows Settings, PC Insights allows users to ask direct questions about their computer. For example, users can ask what is consuming CPU power, how much storage remains or which devices are connected.
However, the feature is still in an experimental phase, and Microsoft has warned that some answers may occasionally be incomplete or inaccurate.
Microsoft Copilot PC Insights: Feature Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Name | PC Insights |
| Platform | Windows 11 Copilot |
| Purpose | Explains PC hardware and performance |
| Access | Read-only (Cannot change settings) |
| Permission | Required (User must opt-in) |
| Status | Experimental rollout |
How Copilot Can Check Your Windows 11 PC
Previously, users had to manually search through different Windows menus to find information about their devices. Now, PC Insights brings these details together through Copilot.
For instance, users can ask:
- Which graphics card is installed?
- How much CPU power is currently being used?
- Is there enough storage for a large game?
- Which external devices are connected?
After receiving permission, Copilot retrieves the relevant information and explains it in an easier format.
Additionally, the feature can compare local PC information with online data. For example, it can check available storage against the requirements of a game and tell users whether they need more space.
This Image is Ai generated and used for Illustration purposes only.
What Information Can PC Insights Access?
According to Microsoft and reports from Windows Latest, PC Insights can provide details about several parts of a computer.
These include:
- CPU, RAM and GPU usage
- Available storage space
- Folder sizes, including Downloads and Documents
- BIOS and system specifications
- Battery health information
- Antivirus status
- USB devices and external drives
- Printers, webcams and other connected hardware
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and network adapters
Furthermore, Copilot can combine this information to provide a clearer picture of overall system performance.
Users Must Approve Access Before Copilot Checks Information
Microsoft says PC Insights does not automatically access a computer’s system details. Instead, users must first provide permission.
Users can select different access options:
| Permission | Explanation |
| Allow for current session | Gives temporary access until Copilot closes or the PC restarts |
| Always allow | Approves similar requests in the future |
| Deny | Blocks access to system information |
Meanwhile, Microsoft says the feature does not continuously monitor computers in the background.
Users can also change or remove permissions later through Copilot’s privacy settings.
Microsoft Says Personal Data Is Not Used for AI Training
Microsoft has stated that PC Insights does not store personal files or use private system information to train its AI models.
However, Copilot conversations, including user prompts and responses, may be used to improve AI services depending on individual privacy settings.
Therefore, users should review their Copilot privacy options if they have concerns about data usage.
Copilot’s Own RAM Usage Creates Concerns
While PC Insights aims to help users understand their computers, the Copilot application itself has attracted attention because of its memory consumption.
According to Windows Latest testing, Copilot used around 800MB of RAM and approached 1GB on a computer with 32GB of memory, even when the app was not actively performing tasks.
However, this was only one test on a specific system. As a result, actual memory usage may differ depending on the device, Windows version and Copilot activity.
Microsoft has not published official details about average Copilot RAM usage.
New Copilot App Uses Web-Based Technology
In addition to PC Insights, reports suggest that Microsoft’s latest Copilot application relies heavily on web technology.
The app reportedly includes Microsoft Edge and Chromium components to support browsing-related features.
Because of this, some users may notice separate Copilot and browser-related processes appearing in Windows Task Manager.
Previously, Microsoft offered a more native Windows-based Copilot experience. However, the company has moved toward a web-based structure as it expands Copilot’s online capabilities.
Copilot Can Explain Issues But Cannot Fix Them Yet
Currently, PC Insights only provides read-only access to system information.
Although Copilot can explain problems and suggest possible solutions, it cannot make automatic changes.
For example, Copilot cannot:
- Change Windows settings automatically
- Delete unnecessary files
- Run repair tools
- Fix performance problems independently
Instead, users must manually follow the recommended steps.
Why PC Insights Could Matter for Windows Users
Overall, PC Insights could make computer troubleshooting easier, especially for people who are unfamiliar with advanced Windows tools.
At the same time, Microsoft will need to address concerns about Copilot’s own resource usage and ensure users understand how their information is handled.
As AI becomes more integrated into operating systems, features like PC Insights could change how users manage and understand their computers.
Key Points :
- Microsoft is testing PC Insights, a new Copilot feature for Windows 11.
- The tool can explain CPU, RAM, GPU, storage and connected device information.
- Users must approve access before Copilot can view system details.
- Microsoft says personal files are not used for AI model training.
- Copilot cannot automatically repair Windows problems yet.
- Early testing suggests Copilot itself may use significant RAM.
- The feature could simplify PC troubleshooting for everyday users.
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LAHORE – On 11th July, 2026, Upfront partnered up with MUN NOVA by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), becoming the event’s Official Media Partner. Upfront’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohtasim Kamran, signed the MoU on behalf of Upfront as the sole representative alongside the Executive Council members.
Left, CEO Mohtasim Kamran
When will the registrations open?
Registrations for the MUN NOVA remain closed as of now until further notification; however, Upfront confirmed that the MUN will take place sometime in December, but the exact dates are yet to be decided.
It is pertinent to mention here that MUN NOVA is being organized by the LGS Township’s students’ MUN society privately. MUN NOVA, with the partnership of Upfront, MUN NOVA expects somewhere up to 300 delegates through the remarkable marketing strategy of Upfront.
Upfront’s Executives and MUN NOVA
CEO Mohtasim Kamran, on behalf of the Editor-in-Chief and the entire Upfront management, reiterated Upfront’s support to bring MUN NOVA to greater heights and success. Upfront pledges to maintain strong Editorial standards while covering the event.
CEO Mohtasim Kamran and Executive Council Members
To follow the event details closely, follow Upfront’s social handles and upfront.pk
Read more: OpenAI retires ChatGPT Atlas browser
Note: The exact details of the event still remain unknown. Upfront in no way claims the responsibility for any claim made in the article, including the time of the event.
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