10-hour power outages test Pindi’s patience

The duration of load-shedding has exceeded 10 hours in Rawalpindi while power cuts in suburbs have reached 14 to 16 hours.

Load-shedding after every hour has badly disrupted routine life and businesses.

The incessant power cuts have also badly affected the water supply to the garrison city. Residents of densely populated areas have been facing water shortages as supply from tube wells had been affected.

Businesses have come to a standstill as also facing severe difficulties. Announced and unannounced load-shedding began to affect every daily life.

Tailor Abdul Jabbar said that Eid was fast approaching but the work of tailors had badly been affected by power cuts. “We have taken stitching orders but now we are worried how it will it bedone.

He went on to say that earlier there were power outages during day time and the power supply at night was fine. “Most tailors worked at night to get as much work as possible due to the uninterrupted power supply. But now there is no difference between day and night.”

He further said that sleep deprivation has also become a problem due to load shedding at night.

Carpenters, who make wooden furniture, said that there was no electricity and where would labourers go in such a situation.

The power outage has put a brake on all kinds of business activities. It is difficult for the poor to make both ends meet. On the other hand, ISCO officials said that at present the demand for electricity in the ISCO region was high and the supply was low.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2022.