Outages increase as power shortfall hits 3k MW 

LAHORE: Power outages have increased as a result the shortfall hitting 3000 MW due to a decline in hydel electricity generation, Geo News reported Sunday.

Power loadshedding in spells totaling 5 hours is being carried out in cities in 24 hours while the duration of power outages has shot up to 8 hours in rural areas.

Decrease in discharge of water from Mangla and Tarbela dams has squeezed hydel power generation by 2300 MW, once again triggering a crisis of power shortage across the country.

According to PEPCO sources, at present the total power generation of the country stands at 9000 MW against the total demand of 12000 MW, thus, showing a shortfall of 3000 MW.

The sources said that the rise in power shortfall has led to increased power loadshedding.

Power outages after every hour is being undertaken in some parts of Lahore, including, Lahore.

Loadshedding hindering productivity: SCCI

SIALKOT  (December 27, 2010) : Due to the forced unscheduled electricity load shedding and non-availability of Sui gas export orders amounting to Cores of rupees were in doldrums revealed President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Ghulam Mustafa Choudary.

Talking to reporters on Sunday evening here he urged upon the government to take immediate steps for finishing forced electricity load shedding from this export-oriented city for ensuring uninterrupted productivity.

The impact of this forced electricity load shedding in this export city would create serious socio-economic problems for the government as well as the government would be failing in attaining the fixed export target he said. Ghulam Mustafa further told that this export city was earning more than 1 billion US dollars per annum through its exports adding that prevailing forced electricity load shedding and non-availability sui gas causing a sharp decline in exports and generating unemployment in the area.

The SCCI President said that forced electricity load shedding was being carried out from five to eight as a result of which the exporters and manufacturers are unable to fulfil their international commitments within due time and foreign buyers are reluctant to give new orders to the businessmen and they had divert their business to other countries. Sialkot is the biggest taxpayer in the country but they had become helpless and unable to do business in a proper way he added. It seems that Sialkot, which is export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry, was being totally ignored and intentionally forced electricity load shedding being carried out as a punishment he added.

The SCCI President seeks intervention of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillian for resolving the electricity problems for ensuring smooth productivity and enables the business community to fulfil its international commitments. Similarly, people in general are confronting with multiple problems due to non-availability of Sui-gas in the city and adjoining areas. It is very unfortunate that government was not interested in the provision of sufficient gas to domestic consumers of this export-oriented city. It may be mentioned that gas cylinders were being sold at very price and shopkeepers are fleecing the consumers while filling the cylinders at high rates.