Karachiites are facing six to seven hours loadshedding as Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has failed to observe its three-hour power outage schedule. The power utility, which had pledged to reduce loadshedding after it started receiving furnace oil from Pakistan State Oil, is yet to generate/supply the required capacity of electricity amid rising demand.
Despite a demand of almost 2000MW, sources said on Saturday KESC was supplying over 1600MW, showing a shortfall of at least 400MW. According to sources, Bin Qasim Thermal Power Plant (BQTPP) of KESC was generating 50 percent less electricity, for what the sources said an attempt to save furnace oil.
While the city was facing three hours long loadshedding, the company was running the BQTPP units at lower capacity as its units 1, 4, 5 and 6 were generating 70, 70, 190 and 170MW, respectively while the two units of 200MW capacity each were switched off. With the shutdown of two electricity generating units of 400MW, the total supply of BQTPP has been reduced to at least 500MW out of its capacity of 1150MW.
In different areas of the city especially the outskirts and Katchi Abadis, the people were facing six to seven hours loadshedding. Malir, Liaqatabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Tariq Road, Nazimabad, PIB Colony, Garden, Lasbela, Gulistaan-e-Johar, Shah Faisal Colony, Saddar, etc, were the worst hit, sources said.
However, official sources in KESC claimed that while the company was still confined to the three hours scheduled loadshedding, there were reports of more outages for different faults and theft cases. KESC, according to official sources, has organised its 7th Open kutchery at Nazimabad on Friday in which around 150 consumers presented their applications to the company''s CEO Tabish Gauhar.
A large number of notables and residents participated in the kutchery. The CEO listened to the complaints and issued orders on all the complaints. He said the real purpose of holding Kutcheris was to understand the issues faced by KESC''s valued consumers and find out what mechanism had been needed to create a solid system which has minimum chances of errors.
"Our relationship is more than just a business contact between sellers and buyers," he said adding that "electricity provides the basis for life activity and we fully understand our responsibility." He said Kutcheris at Gulshan Iqbal, Gulberg, Orangi, Gulistan-e-Johar, Clifton-Defence and Lyari had helped KESC improve its system and functioning to a greater extent.
Through this direct contact to the general public, the KESC could communicate some important messages for the benefit of all stakeholders. "If each of us switch off one extra light every day, this would accumulate into quite a mentionable quantum of electricity," he added.
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