Sindh orders markets to close at 9pm to save energy

Province’s traders reject decision; say govt should create facilities for business community instead of problems

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD:

The Sindh government on Friday ordered to close all markets, shops, and shopping malls in the province by 9pm, even in the commercial hub of Karachi, whereas wedding halls were to be shut by 10:30pm and hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes by 11pm.

In a statement, the provincial government stated that the measures were being taken in light of the country’s energy crisis.

The crisis, it added, had prompted the Sindh government to invoke sections of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Act, 2010 and issue an order to reduce operational hours of shops and restaurants.

The notification further stated that the energy shortfall in the country required immediate control.

“The urgent need to take the effective measures for the conservation of energy in Sindh though a two-pronged approach, i.e. to utilise the daylight hours for business activities and minimise the possible adverse impact of the business activities,” it read.

However, the order to suspend business hours does not place limitations on pharmacies, hospitals, petrol stations, and bakeries.

The notification stipulated that the orders will be enforced with immediate effect from 5pm on Friday till the next month.

The provincial government has issued the notice to relevant authorities including police stations, and authorised them to register complaints against perpetrators under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Read Cabinet cobbles up plan to rein in debilitating energy crisis

However, the traders of the province have rejected the decision. All Pakistan Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch said the traders of Sindh would not close their businesses at 9pm under any circumstances.

He added that the Sindh government should create facilities for the business community instead of problems.

“If the rulers turn off their air-conditioners, then the fans of the poor will run.”

Separately, the energy ministry has clarified that no proposal was under consideration to close commercial feeders from 7pm to 10pm.

A statement issued by the ministry read that there was no veracity in the media reports regarding the closure of commercial feeders.

In the meantime, the total power shortfall in the country has reached 7,577 MW.

Sources in the Power Division said the power generation shortfall was 5,577 MW.

They added that the electricity distribution shortfall stood at 2,000 MW.

They further said because of the difference in the power outages schedule in rural and urban areas, 2,000 MW of electricity was not being distributed.

Load imbalances were causing the transformers to explode and the conductors to break.

The total power generation in the country was 21,923 MW while the demand for electricity stood at 27,500 MW.

The sources said 5,269 MW of electricity was being generated from hydropower sources while the government thermal plants were producing 1,572 MW.

They added that the private sector power plants were generating 11,668 MW.

Electricity being generated from wind power plants stood at 1,539 MW and 500 MW from solar plants.

Nuclear fuel plants were producing 2,239 MW of electricity and bagasse-based plants 137 MW.

The sources said up to 14 hours of power outages were being carried out in different parts of the country

Electricity outages were also being carried out for six hours in the Islamabad region.

The duration of power outages is longer in high loss areas.