The Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) have started shutting down power in parts of the city on a rotational basis to cool down public anger, Pakistan Today learnt on Tuesday. Long power closures are being carried out in certain areas while load-shedding in other areas goes on according to schedule. Similarly, on alternate days, the areas having relief are made to suffer while relief is given to areas which were witnessing long power closures before.
A PEPCO source said that the new way of unscheduled load-shedding was working successfully, as in this way mass protests were being controlled. “There could be protests in parts of the city but not in every area; thus it reduces public pressure,” he said, adding that there were many protests when load-shedding started but now the number of protests have decreased. “In other words, the unity of protests has broken and public anger reduced,” he said “If there are long power closures in Baghbanpura and Mughalpura on a given day, then on the same day there will be a good supply of electricity in the surrounding areas such as Gari Shahu and Mustafabad.
“This technique is being adopted in every part of the city to split the protests,” he added. A LESCO official admitted that long power closures were being done in parts. While citing an example, he said that on Sunday, in many areas such as Gulberg, Muslim Town, Wahdat Road and Iqbal Town power closed for two hours after every one hour, while Faisal Town, Johar Town, Township and Wapda Town were given a smooth supply and there was a closure of only one hour after every four to five hours.
Meanwhile, some parts of the city witnessed routine load-shedding of six to eight hours while in certain parts electricity was closed for many hours, which prompted the masses to take to the streets. In a protest, an SDO of LESCO was also injured. In Shahdara, the protestors blocked GT Road. They burnt tyres on the road and chanted slogans against the government. They said LESCO closed electricity for more than 12 hours. A protestor, Rana Jameel, said that electricity was closed for four to six hours continuously and it had become impossible for them to perform routine work. “There is no water because of electricity failure and it seemed we are living in the Stone Age,” he added.
