No loadshedding on Christmas, PM Nawaz directs authorities

The exemption will remain in place across the country until Sunday

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed the water and power ministry to ensure that there is no electricity loadshedding on the occasion of Christmas.

"Prime Minister has directed Ministry of Water & Power to ensure zero loadshedding across the country from tonight till tomorrow, in the wake of Christmas celebrations," said a statement issued by the PM House.

Earlier on December 15, the prime minister announced to eliminate loadshedding by 2018, saying power outages have already been overcome for industries.



“I am confident that the government will be able to eliminate loadshedding in 2018 so people are finally relieved of the suffering once and for all,” the premier said while addressing a gathering. He added that not only will loadshedding come to an end but will also become cheap and accessible for the masses.

PM Nawaz said that previous governments should be inquired as to why loadshedding was allowed to surface in the first place which caused misery for the masses.



Under the new supply management plan for 2016-18 approved by the cabinet committee on August 30, electricity outages would be brought down in urban areas from an average of six hours to three hours per day and in rural areas from eight hours to four hours per day from November.

When the current government came to power in mid-2013, power outages were the worst as consumers were enduring 13 to 14 hours of blackouts daily, which have now come down to 6-8 hours with further reduction planned for November this year.