There was no let up in the electricity break down even on Sunday as hot and dry weather touched sixty eight years' old record of hot temperature in the month of March in the provincial capital.
Meteorological department told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the mercury rose to 37 centigrade mark on 21st March in Lahore, just 0.8 centigrade below the maximum temperature of 37.8 centigrade recorded on 26th March 1942.
Pepco sources said that in the wake of persistent dry and hot weather the demand for electricity has exceeded 13500 MW against the present generation of 9000 MW, resulting in a supply and demand gap of 4500 MW.
Due to the wide difference between demand and supply, Pepco is inflicting unscheduled load shedding of 8 to 10 hours in the cities up to 18 hours in the rural areas while the duration of power testing patience of the nation to its limits.
Met Office has said that a westerly wave is likely to affect the extreme upper parts of the country from Sunday night and may persists during next 1-2 days.
In Punjab including Islamabad: mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the province during next 24 hours. Whereas dust-thunderstorm may occur at isolated places in upper Punjab on 22nd and 23rd March during evening/night. Whereas day temperatures likely to remain above normal in plain areas of the Punjab during next 24 hours.
In NWFP: thunderstorm-rain may occur at isolated places in Malakand and Hazara division from Sunday night and 22nd.
In Sindh: dry weather is expected in most parts of the province during next few days, whereas day temperatures likely to remain above normal in most parts of Sindh during next few days. In Balochistan: dry weather is expected in most parts of the province during next few days. Whereas day temperatures likely to remain above normal in coastal and central parts during next few days.
In Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan thunderstorm-rain may occur at isolated places from tonight to 23rd March.