Prolonged, unannounced power cuts traumatise citizens

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  • Govt’s claims of zero-load shedding stand exposed as many areas face power cuts of up to 18 hours
  • People in most parts of the country say they offered Jumma prayer with no electricity in their area
  • NTDC sources say demand of electricity has increased to 22,500MW while generation stands at 16,000MW

The country is facing an acute energy shortfall, as despite the government’s tall claims of uninterrupted power supply during Ramzan many areas remained without electricity on Friday.

On the auspicious day of Jumma-tul-Wida which is often observed with zeal by Muslims around the globe, Pakistan people in the most parts of the country complained of no electricity in their areas during Friday prayers.

At the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, Water and Power Minster Khawaja Asif had claimed that overall power generation was recorded at 17,000 Megawatt against the demand of 18,000 MW. But, unannounced and hours-long load shedding during Sehr and Iftar timings have exposed the governments’ tall claims of providing non-stop power in the holy month.

The masses did not get any relief in terms of electricity throughout the month, in spite of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s clear directions of zero-load shedding during Iftar and Sehr.

People from most parts of the country, including all the provincial capitals, complained that they remained without electricity for hours on Friday, as the distribution companies (Discos) failed to provide uninterrupted electricity to citizens.

Reports about electricity load shedding were reported from different districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Nankana Sahib, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Okara, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh.

In Lahore, people from different areas took to streets against prolonged and unannounced power cuts.

In Walton area’s Pir Colony, people said they were deprived of electricity since Thursday night. People of Iqbal Town’s Nargis block remained without electricity since five in the morning. Due to power outrages, people remained without water which added to their woes.

Gulshan-e-Ravi’s Alamgir Park area is reportedly without electricity since Wednesday.

Talking to Pakistan Today, they complained that transformer of their area had broken down but WAPDA officials did not bother to repair it.

Moreover, many areas like Riwaz Garden, Sabzazar, Yateem Khana Chowk, Data Ganj Bakhsh Town and Shadman faced hours-long power outages due to tripping in the main feeder near Band Road.

Residents of Lahore’s suburban areas Shahdara, Ferozwala, Kot Abdul Malik, Manga Mandi were also upset because of frequent power cuts.

A resident of Shahdara told Pakistan Today that the duration of load shedding had increased from one hour to four hours.

In Rawalpindi, people of many areas faced power cuts of up to 18 hours. Rawal Town, Margala Town, Adyala Road and some other areas faced power outages of up to 20 hours.

Sources in the National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDC) told Pakistan Today that the demand of electricity in the country had increased to 22,500 MW while the power generation was being recorded at 16,000 MW from all generation companies (Gencos).

LESCO spokesman Imran Afzal told Pakistan Today that load shedding in many areas was caused by tripping of the feeders and LESCO was trying hard to take care of the situation.

1 COMMENT

  1. Fuel prices have dropped all over the world – the cost of electricity should have dropped, it is as high as ever. The failure to supply electricity is old, broken down transmission system which is never changed.

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