Pakistan’s power crisis continues with 4,700 MW shortfall
By IANSWednesday, April 21, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s power crisis is persisting with a shortfall of 4,700 MW forcing outages of 6-8 hours in this federal capital and of 8-10 hours in the adjacent garrison town of Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s daily requirement of electricity ranges between 13,000 and 13,200 MW but falling water levels at dams across the country have considerably impacted on generation.
To deal with the crisis, the Punjab provincial government has asked all government offices to turn off air-conditioners and use only 50 percent of their lights.
Outages for 12 hours in Punjab’s urban areas and for 18 hours in the rural areas “is badly disturbing routine life and is also causing water shortages in the province”, Online news agency reported.
Power is being shut down for 4-5 hours in Karachi, while breakdown and cable faults are adding to the woes of residents.
Sources in the Quetta Electric Supply Company said power is being shut down for 10 hours in Quetta and for 20 hours in rural areas.
The duration of outages in the rural areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province) is 16-18 hours and 12-14 hours in the urban areas.
