People protest against loadshedding in Lahore. – PPI (File Photo)

LAHORE: Pakistan's electricity shortfall reached its peak as the difference in the supply and demand of power hit 8,500 MW on Sunday, DawnNews reported.

According to the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC), Orient, Hubco, Saif, Lal pir, Sapphire and other power plants have stopped producing power due to the unavailability of oil and gas.

Lahore, Kasur, Muridke and Bhai Pheru are the worst affected cities due to the increase in shortfall.  Power outages, which lasted as long as 20 hours, were also recorded in Faisalabad and Gujranwala.

Lahore has been facing three to four hours of loadshedding after every hour.

Currently, 4252 MW, 1300 MW and 4643 MW of electricity is produced with hydel, thermal and private producers respectively. KESC is receiving 680 MW of electricity.

Various parts of Rawalpindi also remained without electricity since morning. Many areas are also facing water shortages due to loadshedding.

Angry protestors had come out on the streets of Lahore Sunday after facing prolonged loadshedding.

A large demonstration was held against the electricity situation in Lahore’s Garhi Shahu area where protestors blocked traffic and burnt tyres. They also chanted slogans against Wapda and the government and asked for urgent measures to be taken against the prolonged and unannounced power outages as well as the lack of water available.


Comments (28) Closed



Omer
Jun 17, 2012 01:35pm
Long live our democracy.
HADI SAKEY
Jun 17, 2012 01:36pm
Who is responsible? Why do you cast your vote in their favor. U know very well the feudal lords have come in power to steal, grab, and go. They are working like Mafia and playing Ponzi making the general public poorer. In Pakistan U see an island of prosperity and Ocean of poverty. The day anger and hunger comes together, people will come out in the street and repeat 15th of July of France. Grab the Rulers by the scruff of their neck and take them to gallows. HADI SAKEY
muzammil ullah khan
Jun 17, 2012 01:00pm
the prime minister is " too busy " DEFENDING democracy !! he has no time for such ordinary and mundane matters as provision of oil and gas to power producer. it doesn't hurt his pocket and his office and home is centrally air conditioned. the people will get used to no electricity and the demos will taper off.
Hasan
Jun 17, 2012 02:31pm
Yes people are shameless here in Pakistan. Even they don't have guts to protest outside bilawal house or raiwind house, they just make common man's life miserable by blocking off his roads and burning tyres on them. Shameless.
Alyy
Jun 17, 2012 02:41pm
To Wapda. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Qasim Habib
Jun 17, 2012 02:47pm
WAPDA should also stop supplying continuous power supply to president & prime minister houses and all other VIP feeders. They will act only once they feel the heat of this issue themselves.
allaisa
Jun 17, 2012 02:50pm
Pakistan does have Nuclear Power Plants, but there is no mention of the power produced by them. What is happening to the power produced by them, atleast 500 MW?
salman
Jun 17, 2012 12:31pm
once upon a time what a country we had..now its slipping out of our hands!
Engineer
Jun 17, 2012 11:44pm
If you do not pay taxes, steal electricity there will be no money to invest in new generation. Power plants require oil, gas and coal to operate and companies have to pay for the fuel and need money for maintenance of these plants. What can any government do? It is people who are corrupt and they are suffering.
Atif Imaran
Jun 17, 2012 08:12pm
very very bad ....may Allah Pak save our pakistan.... Ameen
Atif Imran
Jun 17, 2012 08:15pm
may Allah Pak save my pakistan......ameeen
Faraz
Jun 17, 2012 06:11pm
This government is a complete failure. Pakistan is better be ruled by dictators rather than corrupt democrats.
Amjad Khan
Jun 17, 2012 06:00pm
Pakistan Year 2030
Nayeem
Jun 17, 2012 05:56pm
A production of a meager 10,000 MW!!?? Electricity production becomes all the more important as it has a direct bearing on Industrial growth and output..I fail to understand how a resourse rich pakistan with such fertile tracts and natural endowments graples with such poverty... Pakistanis who love comparing with India on all accounts must know we produce about 189.5 GW of power with a capacity addition of 9-10,000 MW per year despite the slowdown!! It is high time Pakistan starts identifying with its right priorities and tides over its problems.. Wishing all the luck.. An Indian Friend
umer
Jun 17, 2012 04:00pm
may allah save our country................................................
Hasnain Haque
Jun 17, 2012 03:27pm
This is what happens when the majority in a country are illiterate and corrupt. This is what happens when fundemantalists preech and when religious divisions occur. There isno hope for Pakistan.
Noore
Jun 17, 2012 03:21pm
The only thing Pakistan is number one at is Corruption, dishonesty and fraud.
waqar
Jun 17, 2012 01:40pm
the burning question is that capacity is not being achieved because of shortage in oil supply
Ali AA
Jun 17, 2012 01:01pm
May Allah save Pakistan.
A Human Being
Jun 30, 2012 09:36pm
Allah does not help those who do not first help themselves.
Noore
Jun 17, 2012 03:11pm
Pakistan has reached it's lowest point, nothing works and the people are so illiterate that they do not know the difference between good and bad. This is supposed to be an Islamic country but the most corrupt, shame on you. I live in a Christian country and proud to say they are much better than any Muslim Country.
Dilawar
Jun 17, 2012 02:52pm
Yea and your point it.
Asad Javed
Jun 17, 2012 12:56pm
I love Pakistan despite all those hardships we face here time to time, today I am really disappointed as a Pakistani, We are the lazy and dishonest people. We couldn't produce even the basic need of the life, the electricity. Govt should announce its failure and ask people to produce the electricity by their own means. Govt should leave now, Shame on us Shame on our Govt.
Sunny Aneel
Jun 17, 2012 12:41pm
Such a Pathetic country we live in. People are pathetic, they do not understand that due to how the ruling elite is depriving us and wasting so much productive and precious times from our lives, but still they chant slogans in favor of these political parties. SHAME ON ALL PAKISTANIS. I hope change comes in anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANYWAY WILL DO
Ercelan
Jun 17, 2012 01:53pm
pathetic government across the country. why dont we use the defence budget for the defence of people's livelihoods? China's huge capacity for solar and wind equipment can be used for installing small systems in every home and shop. Prohibit use of electricity or gas for residential and commercial air conditioning. Almost all industry - small or large - can then be supplied non-stop from the distribution system. what is the constraint?
zia
Jun 18, 2012 01:36am
I am so happy that my parents left Pakistan in 1972. It gave me an oppurtunity to get an education, marry a Pakistani, bring her to Canada and raise our children in a wonderful country. May Allah help the people of Pakistan.
Shabbir Kazmi
Jun 18, 2012 02:54am
who will bring the change?
Shameel Khan
Jun 18, 2012 05:53am
Slowly start investing into solar energy. Look at the amount of solar energy wasted every day. Please don't rely on this government. It will keep on doing the way it is now.