As loadshedding riots continue, Zardari takes notice

Electricity shortfall in the country has risen to 8,500 MW: Local media


Web Desk June 17, 2012
As loadshedding riots continue, Zardari takes notice

President Asif Ali Zardari took notice of prolonged loadshedding in the country and summoned Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Express News reported on Sunday. According to local media, the electricity shortfall in the country has risen to 8,500 MW.

Sources said that many power plants belonging to private companies have stopped working as PSO has failed to provide fuel to them.

Chairman National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) Ejaz Rafiq said that the power plants cannot produce electricity as they are not provided with the amount of fuel required.

The private power plants need 39,000 tonnes of oil to produce electricity however they are only provided with 8,000 tonnes.

Rafiq expressed hope that the president might be able to control the situation.

Protests 

Large-scale protests against prolonged loadshedding gained momentum on Sunday, as scores of people took to streets in Chichawatni and destroyed public property.

The protesters attacked the house of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Zahid Iqbal. They hurled stones at his house, smashing the window glasses, while attacking the out wall of his house with sticks.

Protests were taken ahead to Saddar and City police stations, where the protesters destroyed the jail, letting the prisoners break free.

Enraged protestors also staged demonstrations in different parts of Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad.

Power outages, as long as 20 hours, were recorded in Faisalabad and Gujranwala.

Protestors staged demonstrations on Samundari Road, Novelty Bridge, Mandi Quarter, Korian Wala and Roshan Wala bypass. Tyres were burnt in the protests, while Samundari Road was completely blocked. Police launched a baton-charge to disperse the mob.

The residents of Lahore also staged protests in different areas against the power crisis. Women and children, armed with sticks, took out a protest in the Iqbal Town.

While in other city areas, protestors burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the federal government. Some even disrupted traffic flow.

COMMENTS (59)

Burhan | 12 years ago | Reply

@Mujtaba Bhatti: You are talking of ages ago. Sir you info is a bit outdated. Much bigger plants have also come up in Morocco too and Algeria as well. India is putting up one 5,000 MW plant in Gujrath another near Hyderabad and one is proposed near our border in Rajastan. These plants each cost $475 mil. but are available free to reduce the carbon footprint on the planet. If Pakistan wants to tap these resources it can. These things may surprise you but it is happening. If we put our heads in sand does not mean the storm is not blowing.

Burhan | 12 years ago | Reply

@abubakker: Money is never the problem but the vision and will to do is. These are all mature technologies and available.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ