Though the government claims that the power shortfall has come down to 5,800MW after electricity generation resumed from Tarbela on Friday, there was no practical evidence of the enhanced power supply, as angry protests raged on and load shedding duration remained the same across the country.
At least 15 hours of load shedding was reported in urban areas, while the rural ones spent up to 22 hours of the day without electricity.
The scorching June heat was no match for anger boiling inside enraged citizens, who staged violent protests against the government in Faisalabad, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Thatta and several other cities.
Citizens and traders of Faisalabad observed a complete shutter-down strike on Friday against prolonged power cuts. Business activities remained suspended while security forces remained on high alert to prevent any untoward occurrence.
The police booked 253 people in several cases of looting, shooting and rampaging during violent protests.
In Peshawar, the vehicle of Senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Bashir Bilour was attacked by an angry mob during a protest against load shedding. Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and police following the attack, however, the minister escaped unhurt.
Protesters in other cities burnt effigies of government officials and blocked roads by setting tyres on fire.
Citizens of Dera Ghazi Khan protested at Gadai Road, while those in Sheikhupura blocked the Lahore Road by burning tyres.
As long as generation and distribution of electrical power remains with the govt, there will be no improvement in overall load shedding. Pakistan's politics and economy has come to that stage that the only feasible solution to this problem is complete privatization of the entire production, distribution and revenue collection system.
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