With the rise in temperatures, frequent power outages have become one of the major challenges facing people across Afghanistan. Residents of many major cities say that power cuts have disrupted their daily lives, businesses, and peace of mind. They complain that the problem is repeated every year, while no fundamental steps have been taken to provide a lasting solution.
Residents say electricity is cut off without prior notice at any time of the day or night, and in many cases it is restored when the need for it is lower. In some cities, prolonged power cuts during nighttime hours have affected people’s rest and sleep, especially children.
Some Afghan citizens hold the current authorities responsible for the electricity shortages, saying that the lack of a stable and reliable power supply reflects weaknesses in providing essential public services.
Afghanistan is among the countries in the region where people have limited access to a consistent electricity supply.
According to reports, only around 15 to 17 percent of Afghanistan’s required electricity is generated domestically, while the majority is imported, mainly from Central Asian countries.
According to data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), around 35 percent of households in Afghanistan are connected to the electricity grid, and most families have access to electricity for only five to ten hours a day. This highlights the scale of the country’s ongoing energy challenges.
