With an improvement in supply of electricity to the distribution system, the unannounced load shedding in two third of the affected areas is close to an end and remaining one third area would be cleared by Tuesday (today), sources at Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) said.
A total of 1500 MW electricity is added to the distribution system over the last two days, brining down power deficit to 3000 MW from 4500 MW on January 3, easing down the pressure of load shedding on consumers, particularly the commercial ones in interior Punjab, Pepco sources added.
The Business Recorder had reported last week that 20 percent of the total populated area in the country was passing through the phenomenon of unannounced load shedding, technically called forced closure, since end-December when canals were closed for de-silting purposes.
This situation led to worst circumstances with the start of January, inviting horrifying results including complete shutter down and public riots. Particularly, the law and order situation in Faisalabad headed to worst when a large number of power loom workers spread out on the streets of the city and destroyed public as well private property at large. Since, majority of small and medium level power looms are located in Faisalabad, therefore a continuous forced closure of electricity to the production units provoked the millers and their labourers to come out on streets.
According to Pepco sources, the situation was quite out of control on January 3 when heavy fog in major parts of Punjab interrupted smooth supply of fuel to the power producers. In addition, excessive lacunas in the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) and the power distribution companies aggravated the situation further.
Pepco officials, accordingly, rushed to Islamabad to ensure an improvement in co-ordination between the two sides, resulting into gradual reduction in power deficit, running at highest-ever to 4500 MW at that time. Pepco sources pointed out that forced closure in cities like Faisalabad and Gujranwala is over and only rural areas in the vicinity of major cities were yet facing the phenomenon.