The country''s power shortfall peaked at 6500 MW on Saturday due to unprecedented demand in domestic sector. People came out on the streets in some parts of the country and chanted slogans against the government for unscheduled power outages even during Sehr and Iftar. In Peshawar one Provincial Minister a few hundred people from those areas where losses are 90 percent to stage a protest; the protesters attacked the vehicle of former Minister of State for Water and Power, Amim Muqam.
Another such incident happened in Liaquat Colony Hyderabad. Small protests were also witnessed in other parts of the country. When contacted Secretary Water and Power, Younus Dagha told Business Recorder electricity demand has peaked at 22,000 MW against generation of 15,500 MW, indicating a shortfall 6,500 MW. However, there is no unscheduled load shedding in any part of the country. In reply to a question he said, the main reason for the current shortfall is massive use of air conditioners, claiming that there is no unscheduled load shedding in Discos.
"I am supplying electricity to 150 cities (20 million consumers) in urban and rural areas in accordance with announced schedule. Overall electricity supply situation will remain the same during next two days," he added.In reply to a question, Younus Dagha said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif understands the system''s constraints including generation and demand difference. Prime Minister has directed the Ministry to manage the available generation in a better way.
Answering another question, he said, supply is ensured to 70-75 percent areas in urban and rural areas at the time of Sehri, Iftar and Taraveeh. "It is a big achievement; I was not expecting that overall situation will remain under control. On Friday situation was not good but by evening we brought things under control," Dagha maintained. Secretary Water and Power was satisfied with the performance of his attached departments. Another official told this scribe that total number of transformers is 637,000 in the area being covered by Discos and in case 5,000 or 6,000 transformers burn down due to heavy load and heat, Discos staff immediately replaces the inoperative transformers.
Minister for Water and Power, in his statement said "We are fully aware of the people''s difficulties and we are trying our best to continue providing electricity in Ramazan, which we have been providing much better as compared to last many years." He further stated that in Karachi K Electric is responsible for affairs relating to electricity. NTDC provides 650MW despite expiry of agreement while the rest is generated by K Electric itself.