Loadshedding hits hard utilities

Published January 18, 2007

MUZAFFARGARH, Jan 17: Daily electricity loadshedding has affected the online banking and postal services in the district. Rafique Sabir, a bank manager, told this correspondent that the online service had been closed because of frequent loadshedding since it was dependent on computer networking. He said their transaction of millions of rupees could not be carried out because of loadshedding.

Another bank manager said they had refused their clients the service of online banking.

“I wanted to draw money from my account, but the bank has refused me the payment only because of power interruptions which have brought the computerised transactions to a halt,” said Muhammad Irfan, an engineer.

Deputy Superintendent Post Master Syed Mujtaba said the post office service had been worst affected by loadshedding. The post office was bearing a loss of Rs50,000 daily as the customers of fax money orders had considerably dropped in the last few days.

Muzaffargarh Hydropower Station in-charge Damsaz Khan said they got the orders for loadshedding from the National Control Centre in Islamabad.