PML-N government leaves behind power crisis

LESCO says it resorted to prolonged loadshedding due to increase in demand

LAHORE: Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif during his last days in power had warned public to deal with power cuts from June 1 as his party's term in the government has come to an end.

His warning proved tough for masses in Punjab, especially in urban centers where scheduled and unscheduled power outages had already been increased.

Shehbaz claimed that his party had fulfilled its promise to end power outages forever. "Today, almost zero loadshedding is being carried out in the province," he said.

Reacting to the Punjab former chief minister's warning and unscheduled loadshedding, citizens condemned rulers for their failure to keep their promises. However, some of them praised the outgoing government for reducing the duration of power outages.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a citizen Waqas Akhtar pointed out that power cuts in his area had multiplied. "Unscheduled power outages and sizzling summer have made citizens' lives miserable. In the holy month of Ramazan, we have to bear prolonged loadshedding while fasting. Since the end of PML-N government tenure, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has started loadshedding during Sehar and Iftar in several areas."



Muhammad Jamil, a tailor said that unscheduled and increased electricity loadshedding was causing so much problems for tailors as Eidul Fitr is approaching fast. "A couple of days ago, the situation of power cuts was not that bad. I believe PML-N leadership left no money in public kitty to keep power plants running that's why the caretaker government has to compromise on generation."

A LESCO official said the company had to increase duration of loadshedding in both urban and rural areas due to increase in power demand. "Mainly the demand increased due to extremely hot weather," he said. He added that the company's power shortfall is close to one-third of its demand which why citizens have to bear the brunt of increased loadshedding in almost all areas.

Recently, the Lahore High Court (LHC) also sought replies from the federal government and others on a petition challenging power outages in Ramazan. Advocate Azhar Siddique, the petitioner's counsel said that the government promised to end loadshedding but it was still continued.

He said that water in the dams had already been utilised due to which the tripping was happening almost every hour.

He added that the shortfall was increasing fast and no real steps were taken to control loadshedding. "The electricity distributing companies and Wapda had continuously been violating the court orders and power situation was out of control."

Hot weather to continue

Persistent dry weather in plains of Punjab resulted in shooting up of temperature in most cities on Sunday and the same weather conditions are likely to prevail during the next couple of days.



The maximum temperature in the provincial capital was recorded at 41 Degree Celsius. Local Met Office sources said that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in Punjab. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement in the sun, especially at noon and afternoons. Farmers have been advised to take all measures for protecting their standing crops and vegetables from effects of high temperatures.

With additional reporting by APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2018.