LAHORE – The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) closed electricity for eight to 12 hours in different parts of the city while gas supplies remained suspended on Monday despite respite from cold weather. Citizens of different areas should get ready for six-hour breakdowns on Tuesday and Wednesday. CNG stations were closed for two days, Monday and Tuesday, but even then there was no relief for domestic users, who spent another day without gas.
LESCO had announced to close certain grid stations for repairs. Power from these grid stations was suspended early in the morning at 8am and restored after 3pm.
On Tuesday, grid stations of Kot Lakhpat, new and old, General Hospital, New Ferozepure Road, Garden Town and suburban areas would be closed at 8am and restored at 3pm. Consumers said they have become habitual of power breakdowns and now need no electricity. “LESCO should close down electricity for good, as we don’t need it,” joked consumer Farrukh Hussain adding that LESCO could not provide electricity. “LESCO should not worry about electricity, as it is not job of LESCO to provide power to people. Its only job is to send utility bills to the consumers,” he said expressing his fury and anger over the situation.
Shortfall of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) remained 2,401MW with production at 10,240MW and demand 12,641MW. Gas supplies to all city areas remained very low and in many areas there was no gas for domestic users. CNG stations were not given supplies due to a two-day closure but even then domestic users remained without gas. The consumers said that if they could not get gas despite CNG stations closure then it is better for the SNGPL to give relief to the CNG sector. “There is no difference if CNG stations are closed or open, as domestic users do not get gas in both cases,” said domestic user Saeed Farooq.
