7,674MW power shortfall causes hours-long outages

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Crisis worsens
ISLAMABAD
With power shortfall surging to 7,674 megawatts, people are dealing with hours-long loadshedding in the urban and rural areas across the country.
According to sources, the total demand for electricity in the country is 29,900MW and the total power generation in the country is 22,226MW while 5,625MW electricity is being generated from water, 1,327MW from government thermal plants and 11,500MW from private sector power plants.
Wind power plants are generating 1,235MW electricity while solar power plants are generating 122MW electricity.
Meanwhile, the unannounced electricity loadshedding in urban areas is up to 14 hours while 18 hours-long loadshedding is being carried out in rural parts of the country due to power shortfall.
Sources said that some of the urban centres and rural areas were experiencing loadshedding of 12 to 14 hours. With the increase in temperature in Karachi, the duration of power cuts in the metropolis has reached upto 15 hours as electricity shortfall reached 800MW.
The periodic power cuts are causing outrage among the citizens and in several areas protest demonstrations are also being reported.
Areas including, North Karachi, Sir Syed Town, Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony, Yousuf Goth, Gadap, Kathor, Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Hijrat Colony, Liaqatabad, Ranchhor Line, PIB Colony, Jamshed Road, Orangi Town, Shah Faisal Colony, Baldia and Ittehad Town and other areas are facing power cuts.
Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh Wednesday hinted at nationalising the sole power provider in Karachi, K-Electric, saying that the provincial government took notice of the prolonging loadshedding.
Imtiaz Shaikh said in a media briefing today that the Sindh government has ordered the K-Electric management to provide the loadshedding schedule. “K-Electric is claiming that only announced loadshedding is being made for 7-8 hours [in Karachi].
K-Electric has assured the government of improving the power supply to Karachiites within 24 hours. Sindh government takes notice of the power outages, whereas, loadshedding also increasing the water crisis.”
“If it is needed, K-Electric will be nationalised. Law and order situation has worsened following prolonged power outages in two to three days.” Meanwhile, power loadshedding also stirred protests in different cities, including Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad and others.