Lahore: Massive power outages hit City again

[LahoreEstate]

LAHORE - The unending sufferings of the Lahorites has started to further aggravate the situation as the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has resorted to 4 to 6 hours unannounced loadshedding to meet 1500-MW shortfall of electricity.
The PEPCO has announced loadshedding that too in December while Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf spent the whole year promising to end the menace by December this year.
At least 4 to 6 hours unscheduled loadshedding is continued here in the City while 6 to 8 hours in rural areas, as the so-called public-friendly PPP-government has badly failed to overcome this menace from the country despite repeated promises.
The local residents say four to six hours unannounced power outages are disturbing the life across the Punjab besides badly affecting the business of shopkeepers and small traders in the province.
“There was six-hour continuous power outage (from 8:00 am to 02:00 pm) in Johar Town on Wednesday, which led to water shortage, as we had to wait for hours to clean the dishes and clothes,” Mrs Ahmed Mukhtar told this reporter via telephone.
“Since this government came into power, they are multiplying the miseries of the people due to the anti-people economic policies. The government has badly failed to deliver. The electricity tariff is being substantially increased while the government has failed to overcome loadshedding,” Mustafa Khan, a resident of Multan Road said.
The unannounced loadshedding has become the order of the day. It often results in water shortage as Wasa cannot run its tubewells during the outages,” Irfan Ali, a resident of Iqbal Town said. He was of the view that they were suffering a three-hour power shutdown after every hour during midnight.

The consumers complained the Lesco officials did not respond to the calls of the local residents at the complaint centres. “I tried to contact the Lesco officials to know why such massive unannounced loadshedding had surfaced again. But despite repeated attempts there was no one to attend the call,” Afzal Ahmed of Garden Town said.
He further said the renewed spell of outages, especially in the wee hours, was annoying and demanded the officials concerned to at least announce a schedule for loadshedding. He demanded the government to intervene and issue strict instructions to the officials for providing relief to the domestic consumers.
Imran Ali, a resident of Faisal Town, says people are fed up with unannounced power shutdowns and increase in power tariff. The government had increased the power tariff manifold but they (authorities) still have failed to ensure uninterrupted power supply, which is injustice with the helpless consumers, he commented.
The congested residential localities like Islampura, Sanda, Samanabad, Iqbal Town, Sabzazar, Johar Town, Wahdat Colony, Kot Lakhpat, Shalimar and Baghbanpura areas are the most affected vicinities, where Lesco has resorted to eight-hour breakdown. But the posh localities like Model Town, Township, Garden Town, Muslim Town, Gulberg and Defence have also fell victim to the most unwanted routine.
“We were happy after getting rid of loadshedding. But the unannounced loadshedding has again started. It often results in water shortage,” Rehan Ali, a resident of Sabzazar said.
When contacted repeatedly, MD Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema was not available for his comments.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-n...ty-again/1