Pepco ignores Prime Minister's instructions to reduce loadshedding in Lahore

Pakistan Electric-ity Power Company (Pepco) ignored Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's instructions to reduce the prolonged electricity load shedding in Lahore by at least two hours and tested the patience of the people to its limit despite the weekly holiday on Sunday.
The Prime Minister took serious notice of the widespread protests in Lahore on Saturday and instructed Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on telephone from London to reduce the load shedding by at least two hours to give relief to the commercial, industrial, agriculture and domestic consumers of the Lahore zone.
However, instead of giving some sort of relief to the consumers, Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) subjected the citizens to unrelenting electricity outages, which result in shortage of drinking water due to closure of tubewells.
According to Lesco sources, shortfall of electricity is more than 1000 MW.
People in different cities of Punjab took to streets to protest the government failure to overcome the unprecedented load shedding that has crippled all sectors of the economy.
In Gujranwala, where around 14 to 16 hours of load-shedding is being carried out in urban areas and 18 to 20 hours in rural areas, hundreds of people gathered at the Aiwan roundabout and staged demonstration by burning tyres. They also blocked traffic on Islamabad - Lahore road. More than 200 small industrial units have been closed in this industrial city due to power crisis.
In Multan, Prime Minister Gilan's hometown, the chamber of small traders took out a rally against the ongoing power outages and price hike. They staged demonstration at Timber Market and set tyres on fire. The protestors threatened to give a call for shutter down strike on April 14 if their demands were not met.
According to Director General Energy Manager and Conservation PEPCO, Muhammad Khalid the electricity shortfall has risen to 5,000 MW as the power demand has gone up to 15,2234 MW against the generation of 10,344 MW. The hydel component is contributing 2,601 MW, thermal 2,561 MW and Independent power producers IPPs, 5182 MW.
Political analysts say that the government must act quickly to overcome the electricity crisis and reduce the tariff rates before the protests trigger violence and the situation may take an ugly turn.