Daily Times

Billpayers in Lahore are fuming at the hours-long power cuts that are wreaking havoc on their daily routines and livelihoods, something long brewing beneath the surface given the city has been plagued by a growing menace that has left its residents in a perpetual state of frustration and despair – unannounced load shedding.

The erratic and unpredictable power outages have become a daily occurrence, disrupting the lives of millions of people and causing untold hardships. The lack of predictability and transparency in the load-shedding schedule has left people at the mercy of the power authorities, who seem to be operating in a state of chaos and disarray.

The economic impacts abound as small and medium-sized enterprises are bearing the brunt of the power cuts, with many shops and factories forced to shut down operations due to the lack of electricity. This has led to a loss of revenue, layoffs, and a ripple effect on the overall economy of the city. It is not enough to simply acknowledge the problem. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure a reliable and consistent supply of electricity to the residents of Lahore.

Instead of killing the alternative arrangements like solar power, investment in the power sector is direly needed to improve the reliability and stability of the electricity supply in Lahore. The outdated infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and mismanagement have contributed to the current crisis, and urgent measures must be taken. Greater transparency in the operations of the power authorities would have to be carved as the ultimate solution with strict measures announced to hold people accountable for their actions. The people of Lahore deserve to know the truth behind the unannounced load shedding and demand justice for the hardships they have endured.

These protests have long become a norm considering how load shedding is now assumed to be a part of our weather contingency plans. However, if the government is actually serious about changing the living realities, they would be better off addressing the everyday horrors of the masses. *