Power cuts: Protests continue in several cities

Due to shortage of fuel to power stations, power shortfall on Wednesday surged to 8,200MW across the country which caused prolonged loadshedding of 15 to 20 hours, triggering countrywide protests.
According to energy management cells of PEPCO, fuel to power house was reduced and its remaining dues were not paid by the Finance Ministry. Almost 8,200MW electricity is being produced at day time while its demand has reached to 16,400MW.
The massive gape between demand and supply created serious power crisis in the country due to which prolonged electricity loadshedding was 20 hours in rural and 16 hours in urban areas was carried out.
The Pepco sources said that required fuel and gas were not being provided to power houses therefore generation of electricity had been reduced, adding that Pepco warned the government if the current power crisis was not resolved then power system would paralyse across the country in next few days.
Pepco sources said that more than 300 grid stations across the county had been affected due to shortage of fuel, as a result the grid stations tripped after 15 minutes when its supplied electricity to population.
The sources said Pepco could not implement the given schedule of electricity loadshedding due to such critical power crisis being faced by the country.
Meanwhile, enraged people held strong protests across the country including various areas of Punjab due to prolonged power loadshedding.
In Faisalabad, a large number of people took out rally on the main road in protest against power loadshedding. The protesters gathered in Ghanta Ghar Chowk and blocked the main road for several hours, blocking every kind of traffic in scorching heat.
The enraged people attacked Fesco office located in Civil Line area and rampaged the office. The protesters tore documents of the office. They beat staff of the office but the employees saved themselves by escaping from the office.
In Multan traders protested against the prolonged power outages, chanted slogans against the government, burnt tyres and blocked traffic.
Protests also continued for the second consecutive day in Kotli, Azad Kashmir. Shops and business remained closed and residents protested in several areas. The local administration had ordered official and non official offices to remain closed in the city following the unrest which took place on Tuesday.
Strong protests were held in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Jaffarabad, Naseerabad and other small and major cities of the country.
In Nankana Sahib hundreds of farmers held strong protest against prolonged power loadshedding as the protesters said that they had been severely affected by electricity loadshedding. They said that their tube well motors were stuck and they could not supply water to their fields.