ISLAMABAD: A day after Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif claimed that electricity generation had crossed 18,000 megawatts, traumatising power cuts have returned to cripple routine life matters across country. As per the details, country’s rural areas are witnessing 12 hours of power cuts whereas urban areas are witnessing 10 hours of load shedding, as electricity shortfall has surpassed 4,000MW. According to stats provided by Ministry of Water and Power, country’s overall electricity needs stand at 22,900MW, whereas generation is 18,562MW. Out of available electricity, 5,764MW is being produced via hydroelectric power plants and 12,798MW through government power plants and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). To add insult to the injury of load shedding stricken public, mercury has soared to 45 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif has said that power generation in the country has reached its highest level of 18,904 megawatts. In a tweet, he said, “Hydel generation is 6033 MW, GENCOs 3078 MW and IPPs are producing 9793 MW power.” The minister said, “The government will deliver as per its promises and load shedding will be eliminated shortly. Substantial increase in power generation has vindicated that the system is improving continuously.”