BAHAWALPUR, Oct 26: Prolonged power cuts are affecting study schedules of students of the Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB) threatening their grades in examinations, Dawn has learnt. They have demanded that the university arrange alternative power supplies for them.

A majority of the IUB students, especially the boarders at Baghdadul Jadid campus, told Dawn that unscheduled loadshedding had disturbed their study schedules putting their future at stake.

According to them, awaiting electricity for hours is a physical and mental torture to them. Some of them claimed that due to power cuts which bred water shortages, sometimes they could not attend early periods in the morning.

They urged the university management to arrange alternative arrangements for the supply of electricity to hostels and campuses.

Some women students demanded the authorities exempt educational institutions from loadshedding so that students could not face any difficulty in their studies.

Loadshedding, they continued, had switched off their computers due to which their assignments were delayed thus affecting their grades.

They also urged Multan Electric Power Company officials to reduce power shutdown, and prior announcements be made for loadshedding timings.

IBU Public Relation Officer Shehzad Khalid told Dawn that Vice Chancellor Prof Belal A Khan had ordered for emergency measures to counter on-going excessive loadshedding.

He said that a committee would recommend measures to check the energy crisis.

He said natural gas lamps had been installed at common rooms, and halls of a girls’ and two boys’ hostels so that boarders could study in shutdown hours.

He added the approval for the purchase of two 50-KV generators had been granted. These generators when installed would ensure water supply to hostels and academic departments.