Load-shedding rears its ugly head in Pindi
PHOTO: AFP
Even before the onset of summer, unannounced load shedding has reared its ugly in Rawalpindi with rural areas experiencing hours-long unannounced power cuts.
Citizens said that they were facing a dire situation due to frequent power outages and load-shedding.
The load-shedding has badly disrupted routine life, businesses and work in offices and educational institutions.
Due to the continuous disruption of power supply, the operations of tube wells in the city and Cantonment areas have been affected, creating a short supply of water for the residents.
Citizens feared that the power supply situation could further aggravate during Ramadan.
Various areas of the Rawalpindi city and Cantonment areas faced power outages and load-shedding for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday.
Citizens said that steps should be taken to improve the power supply situation so that they did not have to face the same situation during Ramadan.
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On the other hand, IESCO sources said that due to the increase in demand coupled with the heat intensity, the demand for electricity has also increased many folds.
They said that the gap between supply and demand has started widening which was being managed through load-shedding.
The IESCO sources said that a regular supply schedule will be announced if the gap between supply and demand increases.
On the other hand, due to the increasing complaints of citizens about unannounced load-shedding in the city and Cantonment, the complaints cell of IESCO has stopped attending telephone calls.
On Wednesday, residents of Hazro took to the streets to lodge a protest against over 12 hours of unannounced loadshedding. They said that their lives and businesses are badly affected due to prolonged outages. The power outages began as the recent heatwave hit the area, severely affecting commercial activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2022.