Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The prolonged and unannounced load shedding has exposed the tall claims of the ministry of water and power for observing zero load shedding during the Iftar and Sehr hours of the holy month of Ramadan.

Holding protest rallies, torching tyres, blocking roads and coming on the roads by women against load shedding spanning 20 hours daily has become a daily routine in the country. But the ministry of water and power claims that load shedding is being observed only for six hours.

The ministry of water and power had announced load management ahead of the advent of holy month under which load shedding was to be observed for six hours in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas.

The ministry had also claimed to go for zero load shedding during Sehr and Iftar hours. According to the ministry all the arrangements were made in this respect. But these had not been implemented despite the lapse of 24 days of the holy month.

The ministry of water and power had established a federal complaint cell to redress the grievances of the public on this count. The secretary, water and power, Younis Dhakka was overseeing the performance of this cell. The functioning of this cell was watched for three days but later it went dysfunctional and its telephone was also powered off.

Sources said that the ministry took shelter in “low voltage” for the purpose of power stealing but it could not achieve any considerable success. Sources also said that claims by the concerned quarters for a record generation of 17530 megawatts electricity during the holy month were false because the system was so fragile that it could not afford more than 15500 megawatts and during peak season it could only afford 6500 megawatts to 7000 megawatts.

On the other hand the power projects initiated by the government were becoming delayed therefore, load shedding cannot be reined in by 2018 but will be increased.

People say that they have been desperately disappointed over the government attitude and efficiency in ensuring uninterrupted power supply during Ramadan. “If we look at electricity bills for the month of June we will find them higher than the bills for the month of June, 2016 which bears evidence of sheer failure of government.

The consumers of different DISCOS told Daily Times that the government was not catering to their needs even in the holy month and load shedding was being observed for not less than 14 hours daily.

Sources said that no positive steps were being taken to contain load shedding due to the negative attitude of the ministry of water and power. Voices were echoing from all the four provinces against the electricity crisis but the ministry of water and power was giving “All ok” reports.