ISLAMABAD: As the scorching heat season intensifies across the country, unannounced hours-long power cuts have become a source of severe distress for the citizens.
With a shortfall exceeding 6000 megawatts, load shedding durations have stretched up to 10 hours in various areas, exacerbating the challenges faced by the public.
The power situation in Pakistan has reached a critical point, leading to significant disruptions in the daily lives of people. According to sources from the Power Division, the current shortfall of electricity stands at a staggering 6,765 megawatts. While the total electricity production capacity amounts to 20,235 megawatts, the demand across the country soars to 27,000 megawatts, leaving a considerable gap between supply and demand.
The sources further divulged that hydropower generation contributes around 8000 megawatts, while government thermal power plants generate a mere 520 megawatts. The private sector power plants, on the other hand, manage to generate approximately 7000 megawatts. Wind power plants add 1,225 megawatts to the national grid, while solar power plants contribute 120 megawatts. Additionally, 100 megawatts are generated from bagasse, a byproduct of the sugar industry, and nuclear power plants provide 3,270 megawatts.
Despite the worsening power crisis and the public’s growing distress, both the Minister for Power Division and the Secretary Power Division have remained silent, neglecting repeated attempts to secure an official stance on the matter. This lack of response from the authorities leaves the affected citizens in a state of frustration and helplessness.
The unannounced power cuts have disrupted the lives of people in various ways, with the scorching heat amplifying the misery. As households and businesses suffer from extended power outages, essential services, including hospitals, educational institutions, and businesses, are severely affected. The lack of electricity hampers the functioning of medical equipment, disrupts educational activities, and disrupts economic productivity, exacerbating the challenges already faced by the public due to the heatwave.
The public, already grappling with the sweltering heat, now faces the additional burden of enduring prolonged power cuts coupled with sky-rocketing power tariff. The lack of a consistent and reliable power supply has led to discomfort, health issues, and financial burdens. Citizens are forced to rely on alternative sources such as generators and inverters, which are not affordable for everyone and add to the financial strain.
The power crisis has also exposed the vulnerability of the country’s infrastructure, revealing the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the underlying issues. It is imperative for the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to bridge the demand-supply gap, upgrade the power transmission and distribution infrastructure, and invest in alternative and renewable energy sources.
The citizens, meanwhile, demand swift action from the government to alleviate their sufferings. They seek transparent communication about load shedding schedules to enable them to plan their activities accordingly. Additionally, they call for a long-term strategy to tackle the power crisis, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity to meet the needs of the public, especially during the scorching heat season.
In conclusion, as unannounced power cuts persist across the country, the public continues to endure immense hardships amid the sweltering heat. The alarming shortfall in electricity, coupled with the lack of an official response from the authorities, highlights the urgent need for immediate action to alleviate the public’s miseries and ensure a stable and reliable power supply system in the country.
