An unannounced and sudden increase in load shedding has invited public curse for Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), as the power deficit has crossed over 3500 MW against Pepco claim of 2339 MW. Repeated power breakdowns have made the lives of many patients miserable besides operational defaults in electronic equipment in general.
Many citizens are spending sleepless nights over the last few days. Ironically, the government had pledged to avoid load shedding during the final of T20 but the situation was quite contrary to government claims.
The electricity consumers were found cursing the Pepco as well as the government while pointing out how the government can increase power tariff in the absence of power in the country.
It may be noted that the government officials, including the Minister Water and Power, had been assuring the public in the past that no forced closure would be made but all in vain, as the Pepco consumers had been facing with awkward situation time and again.
It may further be noted that the country had experienced the worst-ever power shortage during the last few months. It touched the highest level of 4,500 MW in January that affected the industrial growth badly, resulting into large-scale unemployment and machinery closures in production units. The government noticed the situation fast when both the industrialists and labourers came out on streets and took the law into their hands in Faisalabad. The government though blamed the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) for sponsoring the riots in Faisalabad.
The Pepco officials had earlier been blaming the Indus Regulatory System Authority (Irsa) for not releasing water in accordance with they hydel needs of the country. Water releases from Mangla and Tarbela had improved substantially but the Pepco had still failed to overcome the forced closure phenomenon.
Interestingly, no one from the Pepco high-ups was available to comment despite the fact that an image building press release was issued without a break on Monday.